Stephen Nulty 9:07 am on September 25, 2018
Tags: #MeToo, bill cosby, the cosby show   

Tuesday 25 September 2018 – Bill Cosby sentenced to prison and described as a “sexually violent predator”

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Actor and comedian Bill Cosby had denied all the allegations of sexual abuse made against him but back in April after a retrial he was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand in 2004.  Other allegations against him he escaped being tried because of the statute of limitations relating to certain historical crimes.  Today Mr Cosby was before a judge in Pennsylvania, who sentenced him to three to 10 years in prison and fined him $25,000 (£19,000) and awarded prosecution costs against him.  The judge also denied a request for bail pending an appeal and Cosby declined to make a statement when given the opportunity. 


Mr Cosby is “legally blind” and aged 81.  Because of this his defence lawyers tried to have him placed on house arrest instead of incarceration – he had been under house arrest since his conviction in April.  The judge disagreed, branding Mr Cosby a “sexually violent predator” and ordering that he undergo counselling  and be listed on the sex offender register for the rest of his life.  He was then taken away in handcuffs to begin his prison sentence  at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Judge Steven O’Neill was quoted by CNN as saying after the sentencing: “Mr Cosby, this has all circled back to you. That day has come. The time has come.”


Bill Cosby is best remembered for his starring role in the 1980s/90s sitcom The Cosby Show.  The show became so popular that Cosby was even branded “America’s Dad” by many and was loved and admired by millions for his portrayal of an African-American doctor, father and husband.  But according to multiple allegations against him, throughout his time on the show and even before, Mr Cosby was sexually preying on women, drugging and abusing them.  One of those women, and the only one so far that has come to trial was former Temple University administrator Andrea Constand (below).

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Andrea gave an impact statement, which was published by The National Post, in which she said: “To truly understand the impact of the sexual assault has had on my life, you have to understand the person I was before it happened.  I was at the top of my game, certain that the groundwork provided by my education and athletic training would stand me in good stead whatever challenges lay ahead. After the assault, I wasn’t sure what had actually happened but the pain spoke volumes. The shame was overwhelming. Self-doubt and confusion kept me from turning to my family or friends as I normally did. I felt completely alone, unable to trust anyone, including myself.”


She added: “Bill Cosby took my beautiful, healthy young spirit and crushed it,” she said. “He robbed me of my health and vitality, my open nature, and my trust in myself and others. Instead of looking back, I am looking forward to looking forward. I want to get to the place where the person I was meant to be gets a second chance.”


The District Attorney of Montgomery County Kevin Steele paid tribute to Andrea Constand, saying: “We are all better because she is in our lives. You’ve heard about how this assault changed her life. To put herself out like this, for years, in front of a worldwide audience is extremely difficult for anyone. She could’ve lived a quiet life but she knew it was important to see that justice was served.”

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None of Cosby’s family, including his wife, or former cast members of The Cosby Show were present to see the disgraced actor being sentenced.  The court, in fact, was largely filled with his accusers who sat in support behind Andrea Constand.  Their emotions shone through when Judge O’Neill pronounced the sentence and their relief at years of struggle and suffering emerged, with many probably never believing this day would come.

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As for Cosby he will no doubt appeal but if that fails he will be eligible for parole in three years but may serve up to the maximum of 10 years.  The fact that Judge O’Neill branded him a “sexually violent predator” and that psychologist Kristen Dudley testified in court that Cosby showed signs of a mental disorder and may reoffend is likely to have a negative effect on his chances of an early parole.  Even upon release he will be forced to undergo counselling, sign the sex offender register for life, notify any community he wishes to live in of his presence and various neighbours, childcare centres and schools will be notified of his whereabouts.


Mr Cosby’s spokesman Andrew Wyatt chose to use the race card and dismissed the trial as “the most racist and sexist” in the history of the US and that Cosby was a  victim of a “sex war.”  District Attorney Steele reminded us, however: “For decades the defendant has been able to hide his true self and hide his crimes using his fame and fortune. He’s hidden behind a character […] but it was fiction […] He used his acting skills, that endearing TV persona, to win over his victims and keep them silent […] Someone who has a lot of money, someone who is famous, someone who can get a lot of attention all over the world just by showing up some place to eat shouldn’t get a free pass for his crimes or be allowed to walk free.”


Although Cosby is unlikely to face any more trials for sexual assault due to the statute of limitations, there are around 60 other women who have made allegations and some of these may bring defamation lawsuits against him for branding his accusers liars.  D.A. Steele said of these women: “I’m overwhelmed by the number of women who were willing to go through this process with us […] telling their stories of being drugged, assaulted or raped by Bill Cosby.”

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