Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to forcibly kissing a woman at a New York City nightclub in 2018.
Gooding, 54, confessed to kissing the woman, a waitress at LAVO nightclub, on the lips without consent. CNN reported that he also publicly apologized to two other women who accused him of similar behavior in October 2018 and June 2019.
“I apologize for making anybody ever feel inappropriately touched,” he said. “I am a celebrity figure. I come into contact with people. I never want them to feel slighted or uncomfortable in any way.”
The Oscar-winning actor made a plea deal to avoid jail time if he continues “alcohol and behavior modification” treatment for six months. After that time, he can withdraw the misdemeanor charge and re-plead to a lesser form of harassment.
If the 54-year-old successfully follows through with the terms, he can face a sentence to time served. However, if he does not comply with the requirements, he could face a one-year jail sentence.
“Cuba Gooding Jr. entered into a re-pleader today whereby in six months his case will be disposed of with a violation, which is not a crime, resulting in no criminal record,” Gooding’s attorney, Peter Toumbekis, said in a statement to CNN.
According to the Associated Press, the case faced several delays after Gooding was arrested in June 2019 and charged with forcibly kissing a 29-year-old Kelsey Harbert who said he groped her without her consent at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge near Times Square.
Harbert, now 31, made a statement in court on Wednesday, recounting her encounter with Gooding. She said he grabbed her breast “as if I was a piece of meat for dinner that night.”
She went on to tell the court that Gooding was getting off easy while his accusers continued to suffer.
“I feel very sad and feel very lost for what I can do,” Harbert said.
While Gooding previously pleaded not guilty to those charges, Manhattan prosecutors confirmed that over 30 women had come forward and accused him of abuse.
Gooding’s trial began in April 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Curtis Farber initially stated that prosecutors would have to call on two additional women to testify against the actor if the case went to trial. However, the judge reversed his decision, and both parties agreed.
“Justice was significantly delayed in this case for many reasons, and I do not feel that justice was achieved today with the entry of this plea, although I do understand why under the circumstances that the prosecution offered a plea,” prosecutor Coleen Balbert said.
