Three men are facing five criminal charges against Spacey in the 2005-2013 events
Kevin Spacey may have survived the New York frying pan, but he will have to deal with the London fires next summer.
Spacey was all smiles this week when a civil jury found him not liable for battery against “Rent” actor Anthony Rapp, who accused him of an unwanted sexual advance in 1986. Rapp, who was 14 at the time of the alleged encounter, was demanding $40 million from the former “House of Cards” actor.
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But the worst-case scenario for Spacey was that he would have lost the case, which would have been settled by whatever award the jury gave to Rapp, who said Friday that his case was never about money, but rather. “A light was shining.”
Now Spacey and his defense team turn their attention to the charges in the UK, which will be tried in criminal court. Spacey has so far made good on his vow to appear in person when called to a London bar, where he pleaded not guilty and “vigorously denied” the allegations this summer.
One man alleged two incidents from 2005, while another claimed he was a victim in 2008; Both took place in London. The fourth allegation is made by a third man who claimed he was assaulted in Gloucestershire in 2013.
Among the incidents are four counts of sexual assault, and one count of “causing a person to engage in sexual activity that enters without consent”. The London Metropolitan Police reviewed the evidence and handed it over to the Crown Prosecution Service, which filed charges this summer.
A three- to four-week trial was scheduled for June 6, 2023 in London. It was not immediately clear what kind of punishment Spacey would face if convicted – but significant detention has been assured.
Spacey has been granted unconditional bail, partly because he was required to remain in New York to face Rapp’s civil action. While his victory will certainly be denied as evidence in a UK court, it cannot hurt the jury and court officials who know that he has already won against sexual-assault charges.
In light of the London allegations long before the rap trial began, Spacey said, “I am confident that I will prove my innocence.”
Spacey had faced a separate criminal case in Massachusetts that was abruptly dropped in 2019 because the man who accused him had withdrawn the charge. The man claimed that Spacey had touched her inappropriately in 2016 when he was 18 years old.
Between that and Rapp’s decision, Spacey certainly heads to London with the wind on his back. Several potential jurors in many #MeToo-related cases have openly expressed that they are unwilling to believe the old charges, or to plead guilty without physical or DNA evidence (the views expressed on the jury panel). none of the jury panels to do so).
If Spacey beats the UK charges, he will clear all the legal cases he currently faces and may even return to acting. While more than a dozen accusers have now surfaced – including Rapp, UK accusers and others who have not pursued charges in court – his reputation may have to play the role of a villain.
