Prosecutors in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania have brought criminal charges against celebrity Bill Cosby.
美国宾夕法尼亚州的检察官对名人比尔·考斯比提起了刑事指控。

Cosby, an American comedian, is charged with sexually assaulting a woman in 2004.
考斯比是一位美国喜剧演员，他被指控于2004年性侵了一名女子。

The case deals with a former Temple University employee who told police that Cosby drugged and violated her at his home near Philadelphia.
这起案件涉及坦普尔大学的一名前员工。这名员工对警察表示，考斯比在他费城附近的家中对她下药并侵犯了她。

It marks the first criminal case involving Cosby, after many years of accusations. If he is found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
这是经过多年指控后首起涉及考斯比的刑事案件。如果被判有罪，他可能面临高达10年的监禁以及2.5万美元的罚款。

An arrest warrant for the 78-year-old Cosby has been issued.
对78岁的考斯比的逮捕令已经签发。

More than 50 women have accused Cosby of drugging them, and in most cases, sexually assaulting them. Cosby has long denied the accusations.
50多名妇女指控考斯比对她们下药，在大多数情况下还性侵了她们。考斯比一直否认这些指控。

Many of the incidents happened several decades ago, and the statute of limitations has already passed. A statute of limitations is a law that prevents a suspect from being tried after a certain amount of time has passed.
这些事件大多数发生在数十年前，诉讼时效已过。诉讼时效是经过一定时间后就无法审问嫌疑人的法律。

The statute of limitations in the Pennsylvania case was to expire in January 2016.
宾夕法尼亚州这起案件的诉讼时效将于2016年1月到期。

Bill Cosby is best known for playing Dr. Cliff Huxtable, the father in the long-running American television program, "The Cosby Show."
比尔·考斯比扮演的最著名角色是克里夫·赫克斯塔博博士，也就是美国长期上演的电视剧《天才老爹》中的父亲。

The charges have shocked Cosby's fans and damaged his reputation as an entertainer.
这些指控震惊了考斯比的粉丝，也损坏了他的艺人声誉。

I'm Kathleen Struck.
我是凯瑟琳·斯嘉克。(51VOA.COM对本文翻译保留全部权利，未经授权请勿转载，违者必究！)

Prosecutors in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania have brought criminal charges against celebrity Bill Cosby.

Cosby, an American comedian, is charged with sexually assaulting a woman in 2004.

The case deals with a former Temple University employee who told police that Cosby drugged and violated her at his home near Philadelphia.

It marks the first criminal case involving Cosby, after many years of accusations. If he is found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Bill Cosby arrives at court to face a felony charge, Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, in Elkins Park, Pa. Cosby was charged Wednesday with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home 12 years ago. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

An arrest warrant for the 78-year-old Cosby has been issued.

More than 50 women have accused Cosby of drugging them, and in most cases, sexually assaulting them. Cosby has long denied the accusations.

Many of the incidents happened several decades ago, and the statute of limitations has already passed. A statute of limitations is a law that prevents a suspect from being tried after a certain amount of time has passed.

The statute of limitations in the Pennsylvania case was to expire in January 2016.

Bill Cosby is best known for playing Dr. Cliff Huxtable, the father in the long-running American television program, "The Cosby Show."

The charges have shocked Cosby's fans and damaged his reputation as an entertainer.

I'm Kathleen Struck.

Ashley Thompson adapted this story from Reuters materials and VOANews.com reports. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

Words in This Story

violate - v. (formal) to sexually assault or rape

accusation - n. a claim that someone has done something wrong or illegal

warrant - n. a document issued by a court that gives the police the power to do something

statute of limitations - n. a law that states the amount of time that must pass before a crime can no longer be punished or a right can no longer be given