Actor Kevin Spacey made an appearance in a central London court on Thursday, where he pleaded “not guilty” on four separate counts of sexual assault and one count of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.”
Three different men — all currently aged 30-40 — have made accusations against the two-time Oscar winner, claiming that the alleged offenses took place over a decade earlier, between 2005 and 2013. Spacey, who has a home in South London, was the artistic director at the city’s Old Vic theatre.
Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey will go on trial in London next year after pleading not guilty to accusations of sex offenses dating back almost 20 years https://t.co/Ck3bOyQZsc pic.twitter.com/KRRGuBb4fm
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 14, 2022
According to a report from Great Britain News, the charges are as follows: “two counts of sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London; sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, in August 2008 in London; and sexual assault on a man, who is now in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire.”
The charges against Spacey were authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service in May, but because he could not be charged in absentia, they were not considered “formal” until he arrived in the UK in June.
Spacey’s attorney, Patrick Gibbs QC, said that his client had chosen to return to the UK expressly “to establish his innocence” and “proceed with his life,” adding that the acclaimed actor “strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.”
Spacey, 62, appeared in court in person for the 20-minute hearing, during which a trial date of June 6, 2023, was set.
He remained quiet through most of the proceedings, saying “not guilty” to each of the five alleged offenses and then adding, “Thank you, my lord,” to the judge as the hearing came to a close.
The actor has been granted unconditional bail, meaning that he will not be jailed pending trial and no additional restrictions will be placed on him prior to his next appearance. The fact that he was given unconditional bail suggests the court believes he is not at risk of repeat offenses and will attend all required court sessions.
Spacey could face six months or an unlimited fine on the lesser charges, or a maximum sentence of life in prison on the more serious charges.