Spacey Found Not Guilty in Sexual Assault Trial

Actor Kevin Spacey has been found not guilty of 9 charges against him in a sexual assault trial in London.

The 2-time Oscar winner (for Best Actor in 1999’s American Beauty and Best Supporting Actor in 1995’s The Usual Suspects) prevailed in a case in which 4 men accused him of sexual assault at various times over the course of a more than 12-year period between 2001 and 2013.

Spacey was working in London as the artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre during much of that time.

The criminal court decision by a jury of 3 women and 9 men on Wednesday, July 26, is Spacey’s latest legal triumph since he became a prime target of sexual assault or sexual abuse claims during the ascent of the #MeToo movement in 2017.

False claims have cost Spacey work for years

Sex abuse accusations at that time quickly cost Spacey his job on the hit Netflix series House of Cards, for which he had starred in 65 episodes alongside Texas-born actress Robin Wright. She carried on for 8 more episodes before the once-acclaimed series was axed.

That decision by Netflix, during a furor over bad press and a public outcry against Spacey, came despite high acclaim for the political drama.

House of Cards still has an 8.7 rating out of a possible 10 on the Internet Movie Database. The series also has received multiple awards, including honors from the American Film Institute, the Screen Actors Guild, the Golden Globes and the Primetime Emmy Awards. But losing Spacey was too much to save the show.

During the uproar that began in 2017, Spacey’s completed scenes in the film All the Money in the World were deleted, and he was replaced by Christopher Plummer.

Indeed, since his firing and fall from grace, Spacey has been almost unemployable in Hollywood. His attorney said he’s been “monstered” on the internet and has become “toxic” in the entertainment business.

Spacey has tried to keep working, writing scripts for the stage and for short films. But his big-screen work has been limited to a few small films, including an upcoming independent production titled Control.

After Wednesday’s courtroom triumph, Spacey acknowledged that some creators are “very afraid” to work with him, but he said he’s confident that others could help him make a comeback, saying he knows people “who are ready to hire me.”

Spacey won previous trial over false claim of sex abuse

Spacey also prevailed legally in a civil trial against him last fall when actor Anthony Rapp sued Spacey for sex abuse, abuse which he claimed occurred decades ago in 1986. Rapp, who now appears on the popular Paramount+ series Star Trek: Discovery, had sought $40 million in damages.

He got nothing when a federal jury in New York concluded in October 2022 that he had not proven his claims of sexual molestation by Spacey.

#MeToo movement has included false claims

The Los Angeles Times called Rapp’s claims the “highest-profile accusation against Spacey” and said that this particular case was “an outgrowth of the #MeToo movement.” 

That movement encourages victims of sexual abuse, sexual assault or sexual harassment to speak out about being abused, assaulted or harassed. The term “Me Too” was coined in 2006, but the movement did not rise to prominence until 2017, when sexual assault claims were made against prominent producer Harvey Weinstein and the social media term #MeToo was born and went viral.

Though well-intentioned, the movement—along with instant “verdicts” in the court of public opinion via social media-driven outrage—has led to a rush-to-judgment inclination by many in today’s society. This discounts the fact that not everyone who is accused of a sex crime is guilty of one.

In a nation where a criminal defendant, by law, should be considered innocent until proven guilty, wild claims that are later disproven have still cost jobs and damaged reputations during what has become a nationwide rise in false sex crime accusations.

London trial ends on Spacey’s birthday

Spacey’s criminal trial in London lasted 3 weeks before the jury gave its decision. By English law, a jury’s vote can stand as its legal decision if 10 of the 12 jurors agree, rather than the unanimous verdict required in the United States.

The 9 criminal charges against Spacey in the trial included several counts of sexual assault and 1 count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without their consent.

Spacey testified at the trial in his own defense. Of the various claims against him, he said one was “pure fantasy” and another represented only a “clumsy pass” on his part. He also said the exchanges were consensual.

Spacey’s defense lawyers called upon musician Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, to take the witness stand to poke holes in one of the men’s allegations, the L.A. Times reported.

Spacey, who turned 64 on the day that the trial ended, reportedly cried as the final not guilty verdict among the 9 counts against him was read. Outside the courtroom, he told journalists he was “humbled by the outcome” and grateful to the jury for his exoneration.

Need the best Houston-area sex crime defense attorney?

Defending your legal rights against a false claim of a sex crime is vital to ensuring your freedom. In Texas, many sex crimes carry harsh penalties and punishments, including years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

This is not to mention the damage to a person’s reputation that can result, even before a case is tried. But while a not-guilty verdict may not be able to erase all of the stigma against a person who was later exonerated and proven innocent, it certainly can help.

If you or a family member needs a skilled Houston-area sex crime defense attorney or lawyer, contact the award-winning Neal Davis Law Firm today to arrange a consultation for your case.

Whether you live in Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, Conroe, The Woodlands or elsewhere in Harris County, Fort Bend County or Montgomery County, you can find a knowledgeable and experienced criminal defense lawyer ready to help at the Neal Davis Law Firm.

Contact us today if you face a claim, accusation or charge of a sex crime, and protect your legal rights.