Kevin Spacey Appears in Court, Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Assault

Kevin Spacey appeared in a Nantucket, Massachusetts, courtroom on Monday for his arraignment on sexual assault charges. The felony charge of indecent assault and battery stems from a 2016 incident in which the actor allegedly stuck his hand down an 18-year-old man’s pants, grabbing his genitals, after buying him drinks at a restaurant on the island.

Spacey pleaded not guilty during the appearance, which took place two weeks after Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Michael K. Giardino announced the felony charges. The former House of Cards star appeared in Nantucket District Court with his two attorneys, Alan Jackson and Juliane Balliro. He entered and sat quietly, standing with his hands folded when prompted by his legal team.


Prosecutors asked that Spacey “stay away” and have “no contact with the victim and his family” — a request that Judge Thomas Barrett approved. The scene in Nantucket was widely described as a media spectacle, with numerous reporters and media trucks filling the small island’s historic downtown.

The actor’s pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 4th. Spacey does not have to appear in court, per his attorney’s request, though he must be available by phone. Despite numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against the 59-year-old dating back to 2017, the Nantucket case is the first to produce criminal charges.

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/kevin-spacey-court-sexual-assault-775747/