Bill Cosby Faces New Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A woman has recently made new accusations of sexual assault against the disgraced comedian Bill Cosby.

The alleged victim filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, claiming that in 1986 at the Las Vegas Hilton, Cosby gave her a blue capsule and alcohol before sexually assaulting her.

At the time of the alleged abuse, the woman was 17. She stated that Cosby had promised to assist her modeling career and had taken her to the Elvis Presley Suite at the Hilton, pretending a photographer wanted to do a photoshoot with her.

The woman, Chelan Lasha, has sued Cosby for exploitation of a minor, assault, false imprisonment, and other allegations.

According to court documents, Cosby first saw a picture of the victim, who was 15 then, on her stepmother’s desk while he and the adult woman worked at the same company. Cosby inquired about the victim, learning about her aspirations in acting and modeling.

Over the following two years, Cosby allegedly built a relationship with the victim's family and gained their trust. In October 1986, he invited her to the Hilton, where a photographer took headshots of her.

After the photoshoot, Lasha claimed Cosby gave her a blue pill for her sinus issues and a glass of Amaretto. She later woke up in a private room, hours after the alleged assault. The victim states that upon regaining consciousness, she found her clothes on a dresser and a stack of $100 bills. Cosby reportedly escorted her out of the hotel room and called her days later to check on her well-being. According to the lawsuit, Cosby threatened the victim, suggesting she could be "quieted."

This case is the latest in a series of lawsuits filed against Cosby under the Adult Survivors Act, allowing victims of sexual abuse a one-year window for claims otherwise barred by time limits.

Cosby has faced accusations of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment from over 60 women. He has consistently denied all allegations related to sex crimes.

Cosby was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era, spending nearly three years in a state prison near Philadelphia before a higher court overturned the conviction and released him in 2021.