Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) -Cuba Gooding Jr. pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of forcibly touching a female at a New York club in 2018. This was part of an agreement that the actor, who won Oscars for his portrayal of the role of Oscar winner Stan Lee, did not have to serve any jail sentence.

In a statement by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Gooding admitted that Gooding had made “non-consensual, physical contact” with two additional women in 2018, and 2019. It was three years since his arrest.

The plea agreement allows Gooding to withdraw his misdemeanor guilty plea and to plead guilty to lesser harassment if Gooding, 54, continues court-ordered counseling for 6 months.

Failure to obey can land him in prison for up to a year.

Three different women were allegedly raped by the actor at nightclubs in Manhattan between 2018 and 2019.

According to a spokesperson for the District Attorney, he has pleaded guilty at most to the charge of forcibly kissing another woman in a nightclub on September 2018.

Gooding, quoted by the New York Times as having said in court during his guilty plea: “I am sorry for making any person feel unapproprially touched.”

It was not possible to reach the actor’s lawyer or representative immediately.

Gooding was nominated for the Academy Award as best supporting actress in 1996’s romantic comedy Jerry Maguire. He played a volatile player of football who is his only client and demands that Tom Cruise “show him the money.”

Two decades later, Gooding portrayed O.J. Simpson on the TV miniseries, “The People against O.J. Simpson.”

A Manhattan federal judge denied Gooding’s request to dismiss a civil suit for $6 million by a plaintiff who claimed Gooding raped and raped her in 2013. The case was filed by a woman who said Gooding raped them twice at Manhattan’s Mercer hotel.

U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty claimed that it didn’t take the woman too long to sue, waiting until 2020 for New York City to invoke a law protecting victims from gender-motivated violent acts.

Gooding stated that a new law should have been applied with a 1-year statute of limitations. His accuser has refuted his allegations.