BILL COSBY FACES SEX ASSAULT CHARGES IN PENNSYLVANIA’S MONTGOMERY COUNTY, NBC’S Philadelphia affiliate reports:

Cosby was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home 12 years ago — the first criminal charges brought against the comedian out of the torrent of allegations that destroyed his good-guy image as America’s Dad.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman charged Cosby, 78, with three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault, including that Cosby assaulted his victim while she was unconscious and without consent, according to court documents.

“Upon examination of all of the evidence, today we are able to seek justice on behalf of Mr. Cosby’s victim,” said incoming District Attorney Kevin Steele, who currently serves as first assistant district attorney.

It’s the first criminal case against Cosby over his conduct with women, which has received new scrutiny in the past year. The case sets the stage for perhaps the biggest Hollywood celebrity trial of the era and could send the 78-year-old Cosby to prison in the twilight of his life and barrier-breaking career.

Related: Rob Long on “The Cosby Mysteries” from the April issue of Commentary. Read the whole thing.

UPDATE [from Glenn]: Seeing a lot of this kind of thing on Twitter today:

UPDATE [From Ed]: Further thoughts on the charges against Cosby today, and background on the likely complainant, from Ed Morrissey.