Kevin Spacey is facing charges of indecent assault and battery in relation to alleged sexual misconduct. Officials said the alleged incident is believed to have happened in July 2016 in a restaurant in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Michael O'Keefe, the prosecutor for the Cape & Islands District, said the criminal complaint had been issued against Spacey on December 20. Nantucket District Court Clerk Magistrate, Brian Kearney, had filed the complaint against Spacey following a "public show cause hearing."
Related: Kevin Spacey seemingly addresses sexual assault allegations in homemade "House of Cards" video
According to The Boston Globe, the charges relate to an incident in which the former House of Cards star allegedly assaulted the teenage son of Heather Unruh, a former TV anchor in Boston.
In November last year, Unruh claimed Spacey had slipped his hands down her then 18-year-old son's pants and touched his genitals. She claimed the incident happened at the Club Car Restaurant the previous summer.
Spacey, who was dropped by Netflix from hit show House of Cards when allegations of sexual misconduct first emerged over a year ago, is expected in Nantucket district court on 7 January for his arraignment.
News of the charges came shortly before Spacey released a video in which he argues his innocence. In the bizarre clip, which was posted on YouTube and on the actor's official Twitter account, Spacey appears to reprise Frank Underwood, his character from House of Cards.
"Of course, some believed everything and have just been waiting with bated breath to hear me confess it all," Spacey says in the video, which is titled Let Me Be Frank. "They're just dying to have me declare that everything said is true and that I got what I deserved."
Spacey then appears to address the viewers, seemingly hinting the allegations surrounding him were presented without adequate evidence.
"You wouldn't believe the worst without evidence, would you? You wouldn't rush to judgement without facts, would you? … Did you? No, not you. You're smarter than that. If I didn't pay the price for the things we both know I did do, I'm certainly not going to pay the price for the things I didn't do."
Prosecutors are also reviewing two separate allegations involving Spacey. The first alleges he attacked a man in Malibu, California, in October 2016. The second has police in Britain investigating the Hollywood star for alleged assault. Scotland Yard has opened six investigations looking into claims the Oscar-winning actor attacked men while in Britain.
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Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more
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