Court hearing on Bill Cosby's sexual assault case set for Jan. 14

The first court hearing on the sexual assault case involving famed U.S. comedian and actor Bill Cosby was set for Jan. 14 by a judge on Wednesday.

Accompanied by lawyers, Cosby was arraigned in the afternoon at a district court in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, where Judge Elizabeth McHugh set 1 million-U.S.-dollar bond on Cosby, who was freed after posting the payment.

Cosby then went to a nearby police station to be finger-printed and booked. He did not speak to a throng of journalists covering his legal proceedings.

Earlier in the morning, First Assistant District Attorney of Montgomery County Kevin Steele announced that Cosby was charged with "aggravated indecent assault," which is a first-degree felony.

The charge originated from the allegations that Cosby sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, who then worked in Temple University, at his home in 2004.

Steele said that new evidence supporting the charge involving the assault came to light this summer. "We examined all the evidence and we made this determination because it was the right thing to do," Steele said.

The charge was announced just ahead of the expiry date in January of the 12-year statute of limitations for bringing charges.

Cosby, a famous Hollywood star with a good-guy image, acknowledged a decade ago that he had sexual contact with Constand, but that was only "consensual."

Constand, 42, alleged that Cosby drugged her and violated her in 2004 at his home in Cheltenham Township, near Philadelphia. After then Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor declined to charge Cosby in 2005, Constand settled a civil lawsuit with Cosby in 2006 on confidential terms.

If convicted, Cosby, 78, could face from five to 10 years in prison and a fine of 25,000 dollars.

Cosby is a famed American comedian, actor and author. He became the first black actor to land a starring role in the 1960s TV show I Spy, and earned three Emmys awards.

He created, produced and hosted the animated comedy TV series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids from 1972 to 1985, and produced and starred in a TV sitcom, The Cosby Show, from 1984 to 1992. He has also starred in a number of films.

Cosby's good-father image has been badly tarnished recent years as he has been accused of sexual assault by more than 50 women.

Most of the alleged acts have exceeded the 12-year statute of limitations for criminal legal proceedings, but several civil lawsuits have been brought against Cosby. Endit