The trial is set to begin April 21 after the lawyers representing the 'Jerry Maguire' actor requested additional time to examine the evidence collected against him.
- January 23, 2020
AceShowbiz - Cuba Gooding Jr. will stand trial on groping charges this spring 2020.
The "Jerry Maguire" star faces misdemeanour counts of forcible touching and sexual abuse relating to reported encounters with three women in New York City in 2018 and 2019, allegations he has denied.
Prosecutors had been seeking to try the case sooner rather than later, but a start date of April 21 was set on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 after Gooding, Jr.'s lawyers requested additional time to examine the evidence collected against their client.
During the pre-trial proceedings, Judge Curtis Farber also ruled prosecutors can only introduce two of Gooding, Jr.'s other alleged victims, who have not pursued charges against the defendant, as witnesses in their effort to establish a pattern of sexual abuse.
They had previously filed papers detailing claims from 19 women who had reportedly been on the receiving end of the 52 year old's inappropriate conduct in incidents dating back to the early 2000s.
If convicted, Gooding, Jr. faces up to a year behind bars.
Wednesday's hearing got off to a rocky start for the embattled actor after he and his lawyers arrived more than 30 minutes late to the Manhattan hearing due to traffic. Gooding, Jr. and his team were chastised by Judge Farber, who demanded they "leave early next time" to avoid such tardiness, according to the New York Post.
