. >> he's dr. huxtable, after all, america's favorite dad. >> reporter: but today -- >> we are here to announce today charges that have just been filed against william henry cosby. >> reporter: once america's favorite dad, bill cosby. accused by over 50 women of sexual assault, drugging, or rape. faced the very first criminal charge levied against him in a pennsylvania courthouse. one felony count of aggravated indecent assault. for his accusers the first glimpse of his mugshot overwhelmingly emotional. i'd see the day. just built up over this whole year and wondering if we were ever going to see any justice. >> reporter: a criminal charge is a huge turning point. to this point we've been talking about civil cases, the court of public opinion. now the possibility he could serve realtime. >> reporter: today's charges stemming from the kais case of a woman named andrea constan, 21 years old when she says cosby assaulted her in 2004 in the athletic department at temple university, his alma mater. this

on "the cosby show," which made so it hard for them to come forward. >> he's dr. huxtable, america's favorite dad. >> reporter: attorney gloria allred, who represents 26 of the more than 50 women who have come forward are released a statement to abc news saying, such a tactic will not deter courageous women from fighting the battle against him. cosby's legal action comes amid a half dozen other legal battles with other accusers and on the same way boston university honorary degree, one of the more than dozen institutes to do so in the past year. >> you have to believe that bill companies cosby isn't doing it because he wants to win money from these women. you have to believe bill cosby's doing it to try to get his reputation back. >> reporter: according to his attorney companies by is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and it's fair to say there may be more of these def nation lawsuits filed on cosby's behalf in the future. >> the problem with filing this lawsuit now is when it comes to the court of public opinion, this lawsuit may be way too late for bill

bill cosby, dr. huxtable. >> reporter: despite those claims cosby's attorney accuses these particular victims of malicious opportunistic, false and defamatory accusations of sexual misconduct against him. for their own financial gain. the attorney representing all seven women says no one should countersuit. that you have against these women in an effort to shift the conduct. >> reporter: when we sat down with the embattled comedian in may, he wouldn't address the allegations directly. >> i've never seen anything like this. >> reporter: it is important to note no charges have ever been filed against cost. he is now seeking compensatory and pune tri damages to the maximum extent of the law and guys, fair to say there may be more suits filed on his behalf in the future. >> we'll see. th will, linsey, thank you. >>> let's talk about "star wars" again but so excited. it is finally here, the "star wars" world premiere, hollywood heavyweights out in force last night. for "the force awakens." among them abc'