Sexual assault: Bill Cosby sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison
- by Leland Aguilar
- in Entertaiment
- — Sep 27, 2018
Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby received a prison sentence of between 3 and 10 years Tuesday afternoon for sexual assault, in line with what prosecutors had been asking for.
After the sentencing, the judge took a break to consider the defense attorney's request to free Cosby on bail during the appeal.
O'Neill denied bail and in addition to years in prison, said Cosby will be classified as a "sexually violent predator", which requires lifetime registration, lifetime mandatory counseling and community notification that a "sexually violent predator" lives in any area he moves to. It does not impact the length of the actual sentence.
Minutes earlier, Constand left the court with her arms folded, a smile spreading across her face as other women who have accused Cosby came to hug her.
But only one case - that involving Constand, a former Temple University employee turned massage therapist - was recent enough to be prosecuted.
"The judge interpreted all of those factors", said Jackson. "Bill Cosby took my attractive, healthy young spirit and crushed it", said Constand, in her powerful victim impact statement. "I felt completely alone, unable to trust anyone, including myself". He has been sentenced to "total confinement", a judge ruled on Tuesday ... "I do not need any more discussion on that", he responded to a question on whether he'd say something.
The label will not affect the length of a potential prison sentence.
Certainly many of Cosby's victims were intimidated by his status as a powerful, prominent celebrity.
Cosby's first trial resulted in a mistrial, but a retrial was granted based on the court's admission of a previously sealed civil deposition during which Cosby admitted giving quaaludes to women, likening the action to how someone would offer a guest "a drink".
Five other accusers took the stand at the trial as part of an effort by prosecutors to portray him as a predator.
Cosby arrived Monday and Tuesday with his spokespeople, Andrew Wyatt and Ebonee Benson.
The state sentencing guidelines indicate 22 to 36 months in prison, plus or minus 12 months because of aggravating or mitigating circumstances.
"I had to watch Cosby make jokes and attempt to degrade and diminish me, while his lawyers belittled and sneered at me".
"This should be a state prison sentence", said Steele, who said the state even has a prison facility for old and infirm inmates.
Montgomery County district attorney Kevin Steele said Cosby would no doubt commit similar crimes if given the chance, warning that the former TV star seemingly gets a sexual thrill out of slipping women drugs and assaulting them. "The jury thinks otherwise". Asked if he wanted to address the court with a statement before sentencing, Cosby declined through his lawyers.
"He's 81 years old, he's been convicted of a sex offense, and after 70 it becomes virtually impossible to reoffend".
Cosby was also asked if he understood the terms of his sentencing, most notably that he'll now be included in the state of Pennsylvania's sex-offender registry. Cosby has been confined to his home on a $1 million bail for almost three years.
Cosby's first trial in 2017 ended in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Cosby's lawyers had fought the "sexually violent predator" designation, arguing that Pennsylvania's sex-offender law remains unconstitutional and that he is no threat to the public at his age.
"The behaviors are beyond their controls, so they are urged to act on it".
The Montgomery County Judge also declared Cosby a "sexually violent predator".