Actor Kevin Spacey denies sexually abusing a teenager on Nantucket

By Nate Raymond

NANTUCKET, Massachusetts (Reuters) – Former “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey stood listlessly in a Nantucket courtroom on Monday before pleading not guilty to charges he sexually assaulted an 18-year-old man in a bar on the island more than two years ago. His lawyer dismissed the charges as “obviously false.”

Spacey did not comment during a brief hearing in Nantucket District Court, where he faced charges of sexual assault and battery, although a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson convinced Judge Thomas Barrett to order Spacey’s alleged victim to retain all of his cellphone data for six months after the July 7, 2016, incident. In court documents, he said the charges were based on “patently false allegations.”

Jackson said police reports show the 18-year-old busboy exchanged numerous text messages and Snapchat videos with his then-girlfriend about his conversations with Spacey at the Club Car Bar on the beach resort island off the coast of Massachusetts, but never mentioned the alleged assault.

If convicted, Spacey faces up to five years in prison.

The 59-year-old actor is one of dozens of men from the entertainment, business and political industries who have been accused of sexual misconduct since allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein sparked the #MeToo movement in 2017.

Monday’s hearing drew dozens of journalists from around the world at a time that is normally quiet on the island. Nantucket residents usually pride themselves on not making a fuss about rich and powerful vacationers, who have included NFL head coach Bill Belichick and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, according to local media.

Megan Keller, a coffee shop manager, called the prospect of a high-profile criminal trial “abhorrent.”

“That’s not a reason why I want people to come. Because someone committed a crime,” she said.

Spacey became embroiled in controversy in October 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused him of attempting to seduce him in 1986, when Rapp was 14 years old.

Spacey apologized for inappropriate behavior toward Rapp. The controversy led to Spacey being dropped from the Netflix series “House of Cards” and the movie “All the Money in the World.”

The Nantucket-related allegations were first made in 2017 by former Boston television journalist Heather Unruh, who told reporters that Spacey had groped her teenage son.

He told police that Spacey bought him several rounds of beer and whiskey and said, “Let’s get drunk,” charging documents say. The busboy told investigators that Spacey groped him as they stood next to a piano.

Reuters is not revealing the identity of Unruh’s son because he is believed to be a victim of sexual assault.

“My client is a determined and encouraging voice for victims who are not yet ready to report sexual assault,” attorney Mitchell Garabedian said in an email.

Other locals expressed hope that the case would not damage the island’s reputation as a relaxed haven for the wealthy.

“If you’re famous and don’t want to be seen, Nantucket is the place for you,” said Greg Margolis, owner of Corner Table Café.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond, writing by Scott Malone; editing by Frances Kerry and Grant McCool)