The plea comes after the star was accused by three women of touching them at different nightclubs in Manhattan in 2018 and 2019, The Associated Press reported.
Gooding was arrested nearly three years ago. His lawyers had tried to get charges either reduced or dismissed and had been scheduled to go on trial twice. One of the trials was delayed in April 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic surged, causing court systems to shut down, the AP reported.
A 29-year-old woman had told police that Gooding had squeezed her breast without her consent while they were both at the Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge near Times Square, the AP reported.
Months later, a server said he pinched her buttocks and made a sexually suggestive remark to her while they were at TAO Downtown.
Another woman said he forcibly touched her while they were at the LAVO New York nightclub.
Originally he had pleaded not guilty to six misdemeanor counts and denied the allegations. His lawyers said the charges were filed by overzealous prosecutors caught up in the #MeToo movement.
They called the incidents “commonplace gestures” or misunderstandings, not crimes, the AP reported.
If the cases went to trial, the prosecutors had planned to call 19 other women whose claims did not result in criminal charges, the AP reported.
The district attorney’s office said in 2019 that Gooding’s “prior acts demonstrate that his contacts with their intimate parts are intentional, not accidental, and that he is not mistaken about their lack of consent,” The New York Times reported.
Gooding pleaded guilty to the charge that stemmed from the LAVO incident.
Fox News reported that the guilty plea came with a no-jail agreement if he meets the term of his deal. The misdemeanor will be reduced to a violation at that time.
He is also facing a lawsuit in which he is accused of raping a woman in New York City in 2013. A judge had issued a default judgment in that case last year after the actor did not respond to the lawsuit. He has since retained a lawyer and is fighting the allegation.
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. (Photo by Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images) (Kurt Krieger - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Through the years Cuba Gooding Jr. and John Singleton during "Boyz In The Hood" Press Conference - January 9, 1992 at Sony Studios in Culver City, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. poses for a portrait in 1992 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images) (Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
Through the years Cuba Gooding Jr. in action during the NHL All-Star Celebrity Challenge at Staples Center in Los Angeles January 30. (Photo by Steve Grayson/Getty Images) (Steve Grayson/Getty Images)
Through the years Athlete Zinedine Zidane and actor Cuba Gooding Jr. (R) backstage at the adidas Y-3 Autumn/Winter 2007 show during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2007 in Bryant Park on February 7, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Walker/Getty Images for adidas Y-3) (Andrew H. Walker)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the Los Angeles premiere of "Avatar" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on December 16, 2009 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Jason Merritt/TERM/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. speaks onstage at the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Morgan Freeman held at Sony Pictures Studios on June 9, 2011 in Culver City, California. The AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Morgan Freeman will premiere on TV Land on Saturday, June 19 at 9PM ET/PST. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. and Tuskegee Airman Arthurine Carter participate in The NFL And Red Tails Salute To The Tuskegee Airmen On Veteran's Day Weekend During the New York Jets Vs. New England Patriots Game at Met Life Stadium on November 13, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images for FOX) (Matthew Peyton)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. attends a celebration for the 40th anniversary of Sir Charlie Chaplin's honorary Academy Award at Chateau Marmont on February 21, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Through the years Singer Lenny Kravitz (L) and actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. attend the press conference for The Weinstein Company's LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER at Waldorf Astoria Hotel on August 5, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images for Lee Daniel's THE BUTLER) (Ben Gabbe)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at the 27th American Cinematheque Award honoring Jerry Bruckheimer at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on December 12, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years (L-R) Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. and former NHL players Mark Messier and Adam Graves speak during the 2014 NHL Awards at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on June 24, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the "Selma" New York Premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on December 14, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images) (Rob Kim/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. speaks onstage during the 'Book of Negroes ' panel at the BET Networks portion of the 2015 Winter Television Critics Association press tour at the Langham Hotel on January 10, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. speaks onstage during "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" panel discussion at the FX portion of the 2015 Winter TCA Tour at the Langham Huntington Hotel on January 16, 2016 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the premiere of FX's 'American Crime Story - The People V. O.J. Simpson' at Westwood Village Theatre on January 27, 2016 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years Cuba Gooding Jr attends the EE British Academy Film Awards at The Royal Opera House on February 14, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) (John Phillips/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. accepts the Instant Icon Award onstage during the 2016 TV Land Icon Awards at The Barker Hanger on April 10, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for TV Land) (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for TV Land)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. attends The 22nd Annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on December 11, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. attends The Weinstein Company and Netflix Golden Globe Party, presented with FIJI Water, Grey Goose Vodka, Lindt Chocolate, and Moroccanoil at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 8, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company) (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for The Weinstein C)
Through the years Cuba Gooding Jr. poses in front of the teams before the 2017 NHL All-Star Celebrity Shootout as part of the 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend at STAPLES Center on January 28, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Sarah Paulson, Cuba Gooding Jr. attend The Paley Center For Media's 34th Annual PaleyFest Los Angeles "American Horror Story "Roanoke" screening and panel at Dolby Theatre on March 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years Cuba Gooding Jr, accepting the International award for 'The People Vs. OJ Simpson', poses in the Winner's room at the Virgin TV BAFTA Television Awards at The Royal Festival Hall on May 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images) (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor/director Cuba Gooding Jr attends the after party of Louisiana Caviar hosted by The Cinema Society with Avion and Watchbox at The Mailroom on February 26, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
Through the years Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the US Premiere of "Rocketman" at Alice Tully Hall on May 29, 2019 in New York, New York. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) (www.RoyRochlin.com/Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)
Through the years Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. (R) arrives at Criminal Court to set a trial date on October 18, 2021 in New York City. Mr. Gooding Jr. is facing charges of sexual assault, rape, forcible touching and sex abuse in an alleged incident at a New York hotel in 2013. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Cuba Gooding Jr sentencing Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at NYS Supreme Court for sentencing on October 13, 2022, in New York City. The Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., plead guilty to charges of forcible touching and sex abuse. The criminal charges Gooding plead guilty to were brought against him after a worker at a New York nightclub alleged he forcibly kissed her, while he also faced charges stemming from three other incidents in which he stood accused of forcible touching or abuse. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) (DAVID DEE DELGADO/Getty Images)