Cosby sentenced to 3 to 10 years
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Bill Cosby sentenced to 3 to 10 years
By Meg Wagner and Brian Ries, CNN
Updated 4 min ago3:17 p.m. ET, September 25, 2018
Gloria Allred on Cosby verdict: "Judgment day has come"
Gloria Allred, an attorney who represented some of Cosby's accusers, applauded the "just outcome" in a statement after the sentencing.
"This has been a long journey to justice for all of the accusers, particularly for Andrea Constand and for her family. And we respect the fact that they have undergone and endured this journey to justice," Allred said, speaking to reporters.
"This is a very important day. Judgment day has come."
"Mr. Cosby has shown no remorse, and there has been no justice for many of the accusers who were barred from a court by the arbitrary time limits imposed by the statute of limitations," she added, praising the accusers who were "brave enough to speak to law enforcement."
Watch more:
Bill Cosby leaves court in handcuffs
From CNN’s Aaron Cooper
Bill Cosby was just escorted out of the courtroom after being sentenced. He was seen leaving in handcuffs after Judge Steven O'Neill denied him bail.
"This is a serious crime he was convicted for. This is a sexual assault crime," the judge said. The courtroom has been cleared.
Watch the moment:
Andrea Constand leaves the courthouse
Andrea Constand, the woman Bill Cosby was convicted of sexually assaulting, smiled as she left the courtroom today.
She stopped to hug another woman on her way out.
Watch more:
Judge denies bail to Bill Cosby
Judge O’Neill has denied bail to Bill Cosby, according to a tweet from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office.
Bill Cosby's judge: "No one is above the law"
From CNN's Aaron Cooper
In handing down his ruling to Bill Cosby today, Judge O’Neill said no one is above the law. He also referenced how brave Andrea Constand, who Cosby was convicted to sexually assaulting, was through this whole process.
Cosby would be sentenced regardless of "who he is or who he was," O'Neill said.
"I have given great weight to the victim impact testimony in this case, and it was powerful," he added.
Cosby accuser: I'm happy the judge sentenced him accordingly
Kathy McKee, a former actress who has accused Cosby of raping her, told CNN that listening to the news about Bill Cosby's sentencing stirs up some "very difficult and deep emotions."
Still, she said she is happy Judge Steven O'Neill sentenced Cosby accordingly and is grateful to Andrea Constand "for standing strong."
Watch more:
Judge to Cosby: "The day has come, the time has come"
From CNN’s Aaron Cooper
Judge Steven O'Neill handed down Bill Cosby's sentence in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania court Tuesday afternoon at 2:10 pm.
Cosby, who is now 81, was convicted of assaulting Constand in his Pennsylvania home 14 years ago.
The defense earlier indicated it will appeal the conviction.
JUST IN: Bill Cosby sentenced to 3 to 10 years in state prison
From CNN's Aaron Cooper and Eric Levenson
Bill Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison on Tuesday for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand.
Cosby, 81, faced a maximum of 10 years in prison after prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to merge the three counts of his conviction into one for sentencing purposes.
The DA tweeted:
Prosecutors asked for a sentence of five to 10 years in prison. However, Cosby's defense attorney asked for a sentence of house arrest, citing Cosby's advanced age and blindness.
Once a groundbreaking actor known as "America's Dad," Cosby was accused by dozens of women of drugging and sexually assaulting them over his decades as a powerful media figure.
Cosby was convicted in April of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and assaulting Constand at his home in 2004, in the first high-profile celebrity criminal trial of the #MeToo era.
Watch:
Cosby will be sentenced soon. Here are the guidelines.
From CNN's Eric Levenson
Bill Cosby faces a maximum of 10 years after prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to merge the three counts of his conviction into one for sentencing purposes. (Judge O'Neill announced that the charges had been merged into one because they all stem from the same event.)
The state sentencing guidelines indicate 22 to 36 months in prison, plus or minus 12 months because of aggravating or mitigating circumstances.
An important note: The judge does not have to stick to the guidelines — he can issue a smaller or larger sentence, depending on various factors, with the maximum set at 10 years.
Prosecutors have asked for a sentence of five to 10 years in prison. However, Cosby's defense attorney asked for a sentence of house arrest, citing Cosby's advanced age and blindness.
Cosby will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. ET when court resumes from break
From CNN’s Aaron Cooper
Bill Cosby will be sentenced at 1:30 when court resumes.
Cosby did not address the court in his sentencing hearing. His attorney Joseph Green told the court Cosby did not want to speak.
Judge Steven O'Neill questioned to make sure he understood that decision. Cosby answered in a loud, clear "Yes"
Later he said he didn't need to talk to his lawyer any more about that issue. "I do not need any more discussion on that," Cosby said.
Commonwealth attorney Stewart Ryan proceeded to ask a series of questions to Cosby to confirm he understood that he had been convicted of the crime, and some of the requirements like mandatory registration and reporting to the police.
"If I went from a city to another city, do I have to - even if it's just overnight - I have to get in touch with the state police," Cosby asked Ryan. Ryan directed him to talk to his lawyers, but after a brief explanation Cosby said he understood.
Later, Cosby asked for more clarification on another question, which Ryan provided. Cosby then said he understood.
On one question about victim notification, Cosby asked Ryan if he had to notify Constand. Ryan corrected him and said it would happen through the program. "Good. Good. Yes," Cosby responded.
If Cosby changes residences he will have to register.
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Sentencing memorandum asks Cosby to be jailed for "the maximum allowed by law"
From CNN’s Sarah Jorgensen and Aaron Cooper
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania submitted the attached Sentencing Memorandum to the court regarding Bill Cosby’s sentence. They are asking for 5-10 years imprisonment, $25,000 fine, and funds to pay for the costs of prosecution.
“A sober view of this case and this defendant, without any regard to emotion or sympathy, can mean only one just sentence, and that is the maximum allowed by law. The Commonwealth respectfully requests that this Court impose a sentence of 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $25,000 fine, and costs of prosecution,” the document states.
Here are some other key lines:
- “Defendant’s crime was more than just a physical sexual assault. He violated Ms. Constand’s trust, which, unbeknownst to her, he spent time and energy cultivating with the specific intent of having sexual contact with her. He also abused his power. Defendant used his age, his stature at Temple University, and, of course, his acting success and public persona to facilitate his drug-induced sexual assault. The totality of his crime was severe. His sentence should reflect that.”
- “These assaults spanned decades and demonstrate an ingrained pattern of criminality. There is no indication the defendant’s behavior will stop merely because he has been convicted.”
- “Moreover, the defendant has never accepted responsibility for his crime, nor has he shown any remorse. Quite the opposite, he tried to silence Ms. Constand with money because he was concerned about his own potential financial harm if news of the assault became public.”
Judge determines Cosby is classified as a "sexually violent predator"
From CNN's Aaron Cooper
Judge Steven O'Neill has ruled Bill Cosby will be classified as a "sexually violent predator."
The “Sexually violent predator” status -- sometimes written as SVP -- requires lifetime registration, lifetime mandatory sex offender counseling with a treatment provider and notification of the community that a “sexually violent predator” lives in the area.
It does not impact the length of the actual sentence. The sentencing hearing continues in Montgomery County Pennsylvania.
5 powerful lines from Andrea Constand's victim impact statement
From CNN’s Sarah Jorgensen
Andrea Constand submitted the attached victim impact statement to the court for Bill Cosby’s sentencing, which was not read aloud in court.
She took the stand Monday afternoon during the first day of Cosby’s sentencing proceedings, speaking briefly: "I have testified, I have given you my victim impact statement. You heard me, the jury heard me and Mr. Cosby heard me. All I'm asking for is justice as the court sees fit."
Here are a few powerful lines:
- On why she didn't report at the time: "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."
- On interacting with Cosby after the assault: "I was in the basketball office at Temple and was required to interact with Mr. Cosby...The sound of his voice over the phone felt like a knife going through my guts. The sight of the man who drugged me and sexually assaulted me coming into the basketball office filled me with dread."
- On a "slander campaign" in the media: "...I was called a gold-digger, a con artist, and a pathological liar. My hard-working middle class parents were accused of trying to get money from a rich and famous man."
- On the deposition during the civil trial: "...I had to relive every moment of the sexual assault in horrifying detail in front of Mr. Cosby and his lawyers. I felt traumatized all over again and was often in tears. I had to watch Cosby make jokes and attempt to degrade and diminish me, while his lawyers belittled and sneered at me."
- On the long list of Cosby's accusers: "We may never know the full extent of his double life as a sexual predator but his decades-long reign of terror as a serial rapist is over."
- On the assault's lingering impact: "When the sexual assault happened, I was a young woman brimming with confidence and looking forward to a future bright with possibilities. Now, almost 15 years later, I'm a middle-aged woman who's been stuck in a holding pattern for most of her adult life, unable to heal fully or to move forward.
4 things to expect in court today
From CNN's Eric Levenson
It's the second day of Bill Cosby's sentencing hearing. We're not exactly sure how the day will play out — there's no formal schedule set — but here are four things we expect to happen today:
- The defense is expected to call a witness to testify about whether Cosby should be labeled a "sexually violent predator" (Prosecutors called their witness yesterday)
- Judge Steven T. O'Neill will rule on whether Cosby should be labeled a sexually violent predator.
- Cosby will have an opportunity to speak.
- The judge will issue a sentence to Cosby. He faces up to 10 years in prison after prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to merge the three counts of his conviction into one for sentencing purposes.
The woman Cosby was convicted of assaulting is at the courthouse today
From CNN’s Aaron Cooper
Several of Bill Cosby’s accusers are at the courthouse — including some who testified against him.
Andrea Constand, the woman Cosby was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting, is among them.
Several jurors from the trial are in the overflow room to watch the sentencing.
Cosby has arrived at the courthouse
Bill Cosby just arrived to Pennsylvania court where he is expected to be sentenced Tuesday.
He had potentially faced up to 30 years in prison, but after prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to merge the three counts of his conviction into one, he now faces up to 10 years.
Cosby had faced 30 years in prison. Now, it's down to 10.
From CNN's Eric Levenson and Aaron Cooper
Bill Cosby had potentially faced up to 30 years in prison, but he now faces a maximum of 10 years after prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to merge the three counts of his conviction into one for sentencing purposes.
Here's where things stand now, as we enter day two of the sentencing:
- What prosecutors want: Prosecutors asked a judge on Monday to sentence Cosby to five to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, saying he had shown "no remorse" for his actions.
- What the defense wants: Cosby's attorney, Joseph P. Green, asked for a sentence of house arrest, citing Cosby's advanced age and blindness.
- What to watch today: The sentence is expected to come on Tuesday after Judge Steven T. O'Neill decides whether Cosby should be classified a "sexually violent predator." The determination would require him to register with state police and submit to sex-offender counseling and notification for life.
Our live coverage has ended, but we'll be back tomorrow for day two of Bill Cosby's sentencing hearing. You can scroll through the posts below to see how the day unfolded, or you can read more here
What Cosby's victim, and her family, told the court
From CNN's Aaron Cooper
In court today, Andrea Constand and her family read their victim impact statements. (Cosby was found guilty in April of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Constand in 2004.)
Constand spoke for just a few seconds in a clear unemotional voice.
Gianna Constand, Constand's mother, said she has "lost the ability to trust anybody" and watched friends and loved ones disappear from her life.
"Our lives became one of a roller coaster ride that never came to an end," she said
Andy Constand, her father, also spoke about how the attack affected the whole family.
"The thought of what happened to my daughter Andrea will always be with me forever like a dark cloud hanging over my head," he said.
And Constand's oldest sister, Diana Parsons, called her little sister her hero.
"After everything she has been through, she still walks around with a smile on her face and a positive attitude," she said.
Judge in Cosby case merges counts for sentencing
From CNN's Aaron Cooper
Judge Steven O’Neill announced all three counts have merged for sentencing in the Bill Cosby case because they all stem for the same event.
The sentencing guidelines indicate 22 – 36 months, plus or minus 12 months because of the aggravating or mitigating circumstances.
The court has received written victim impact statements from Andrew Constand, her father Andrew Constandt, her mother Gianna Constand and her sister Dianna Parsons. Those written victim impact statements are not public though each took the stand and addressed the court Monday.
The defense did not call any witnesses, but Cosby could take the stand tomorrow.
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