Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at court in lower Manhattan on January 22, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) NEW YORK - Actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
pleaded guilty Wednesday to forcibly touching a woman at a New York nightclub in 2018.The guilty plea came nearly three years after the Oscar-winning "Jerry Maguire" star was arrested in the case that saw several delays as his lawyers sought to get charges reduced or dismissed.Gooding, 54, accused of violating three different women at various Manhattan night spots in 2018 and 2019, pleaded guilty to just one of the allegations.He told the judge he "kissed the waitress on her lips" without consent at the LAVO New York nightclub.RELATED: Before Will Smith, who else was banned from the Oscars?Gooding's plea deal calls for no jail time.
If he continues counseling for six months, he can withdraw the misdemeanor plea and plead guilty to a lesser violation of harassment.Gooding was arrested in June 2019 after a 29-year-old woman told police he squeezed her breast without her consent at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge near Times Square.Actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
is seen after turning himself in to the New York police on June 13, 2019 in New York City. Gooding was charged with a misdemeanor count of forcible touching for allegedly groping a woman at a night club. (Photo by Bauzen/GC Ima A few months later, he was charged in two additional cases as more women came forward to accuse him of abuse.