I guess the saying is true about keeping your hands to yourself.

Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. was arraigned and charged with forcible touching and sexual abuse in the third degree after a woman claimed he groped her. Gooding pled not guilty to both charges.  As reported by People, TMZ, and other news outlets, Cuba Gooding Jr. turned himself into the New York Police department after allegations that he groped a woman at a bar. The woman alleged that Gooding touched her breasts and was highly intoxicated during the altercation. Since then a video of the altercation has surfaced to which Gooding’s attorney says “there is not even a drop of criminal conduct or inappropriate activity.” Cuba himself also denied any inappropriate conduct and says he trusts the legal system will do the right thing. He alleges that all he did was place his hand on the woman’s thigh as a cordial gesture.

Given that Cuba has pled not guilty he may have a defense in the groping case. He can use intentional intent as a defense, where he can admit the fact that touching took place but he can deny that there was any illicit intent to touch. Cuba has already admitted that he touched the woman, but he claimed it was a cordial gesture. He did not intend to touch the woman inappropriately. Since the intent element of the charges against him will not be met, the charges may in fact be dropped.

Stay tuned as this story develops…