Update: Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Charges In Jeopardy After E-Mail Surfaces

By Staff Writer | Jan 18, 2016 09:30 AM EST

An e-mail was obtained by CNN that states a former district attorney in Pennsylvania made a verbal agreement in 2005 that his office would not pursue a civil disposition from Bill Cosby in any related criminal matters.  

Bill Cosby was placed in hot water after charges of sexual assault surfaced in 2015, with multiple women claiming that the actor had "drugged" and sexually abused them. Recent updates state that an e-mail, containing valuable comments made by the prosecutor, has surfaced.

In the e-mail obtained by CNN, it states that a former District Attorney Bruce Castor had made an agreement with Cosby's lawyers. It seems that Castor had "promised" that no charges will be filed against Cosby during the time when the actor was being sued by Andrea Constand in 2005. The case Constrand filed was settled in 2006.

However, the e-mail could jeopardize the current sexual assault case against the comedian. Bruce Castor's email to his successor, Risa Vetri Ferman, states the detail of a verbal agreement that the prosecutor had with Cosby's attorneys at that time. The email states that Castor is "intent" in making a deal in which Constrand would have the "best chance" in winning his civil suit by removing the chances of Cosby invoking his 5th Amendment right.

The verbal agreement states that the plan is to not to use a civil disposition given by Cosby in criminal matters. Because of this, Cosby's current lawyers have asked for the sexual assault charges be dismissed. The defense lawyers state that the e-mail "violates an express agreement" with the district attorney at that time, and that it constitutes as an immunity deal, the Telegraph reports.

Cosby was charged in December for assaulting Constrand, a former basketball player from Temple University. The lawsuit states that Cosby assaulted Constrand in his mansion in 2005. If found guilty for the said lawsuit, the actor could face up to ten years in jail.

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