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Colorado Woman Who Claims Bill Cosby Raped Her Never Thought He'd Be Charged

By Rick Sallinger

DENVER (CBS4) - Bill Cosby was arrested on Wednesday, accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his home 12 years ago after giving her cold medicine.

He had no comment on his way in and out of court. After police snapped his mug shot he posted $1 million bond.

It's the first criminal charge filed against Cosby after years of accusations by more than 50 women, including two in Colorado. Although they did not press for criminal or civil cases, both Colorado women claim to be among Cosby's victims.

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Cosby was in Colorado earlier this year. Protestors greeted him in January as he performed at the Buell Theater in Denver. Signs referenced "America's favorite dad, now America's most wanted" and "fame is not a license to rape."

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Beth Ferrier told CBS4 Investigator Rick Sallinger she was drugged, raped and left in a Denver alley by Cosby in the 1980s.

"I unfortunately accepted a cappuccino from him. The cappuccino was drugged. I woke up six hours later dumped in the back of my car in the alley," Ferrier said.

Ferrier talked of a consensual relationship with Cosby which she says she called off. Now so many years later she told CBS4 she could not believe Cosby has been criminally charged in a Pennsylvania case.

Beth Farrier
CBS4's Rick Sallinger interviews Beth Farrier (credit: CBS)

"Today is still just a good day, regardless of if he is found guilty or not guilty," she said. "We're hoping that we get our day in court."

Ferrier and Heidi Thomas, another alleged Cosby victim from Colorado, are now campaigning to get the statute of limitations dropped on sex assault cases in Colorado. Earlier this year Thomas told CBS4 Political Specialist Shaun Boyd, "It has taken 50 years of allegations and finally there are enough that there's a critical mass.

Ferrier said there is a lesson to be learned.

"If someone speaks to you about sexual assault, you need to believe them, believe the women," she said.

Ferrier says she cried like a baby when she heard Cosby had been charged. By phone Thomas said she would love to go to Philadelphia and be in court if there is a trial.

CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.

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