MeToo
Bill Cosby Sentenced 3 to 10 Years in Prison
Television star and comedian Bill Cosby was convicted of sexual assault.
Bill Cosby 81, is back in court for his sentencing for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman named Andrea Constand in Philadelphia 14 years ago. He would be considered to be one of the first major convictions during the #MeToo era.
Along with Constand, at least five more more females have come out to say that they were sexually assaulted and drugged by Cosby. All five females (including Constand) were in the courtroom; however, his wife was not.
Cosby is faced with a maximum 30-year prison term (10 years for each of the three counts). According the NY Times’ Live Updates, “Judge Steven T. O’Neill of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas will have to consider state guidelines that recommend, but do not mandate, appropriate sentence ranges. Those guidelines, which account for any previous criminal record (Mr. Cosby has none), the seriousness of his offense, and mitigating and aggravating factors, suggest a range of about 10 months to four years, according to Barbara Ashcroft, a former sex crimes prosecutor in Pennsylvania.”
Psychologist Kristen F. Dudley prepared a statement that read, “Mr. Cosby had a personality disorder that displayed itself in a lifetime of interest in non-consenting women, one that she did not believe had dissipated with age. It is possible that he has already met someone who could be a future victim,” she said.
According to The Times, “If he is not allowed to stay free during appeals, and he is sentenced to less than two years, he will serve his time in a county facility. If he is sentenced to two years or more, he will go to state prison, initially State Correctional Institution Phoenix, a new facility in the Philadelphia suburbs where he will be evaluated.”
Pennsylvania has several places equipped to care for older or frail inmates, and Mr. Cosby would share a two-person cell or could be kept alone in solitary confinement if his safety is at risk or he is judged to be a threat to others.
UPDATE:
On Tuesday, Judge Steven T. O’Neill sentenced Bill Cosby to 3 to 10 years in prison. He would be heading straight to prison as he was denied to request to remain free while on bail. Judge O’Neill stated that Cosby is to be considered a sexual violent predator.
Prosecution asked for Cosby to be sentenced for the maximum: 5 to 10 years in prison.
The court released Andrea Constand’s victim impact statement which can be viewed here.
Cosby was even denied to address the court.
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