Our live coverage of Bill Cosby’s sentencing has concluded. For more, see our report.
On Tuesday afternoon, Bill Cosby was processed at the Montgomery Correctional Facility in Eagleville, Pennsylvania after being sentenced to 3-10 years in a state prison. He was also fined $25,000 plus the costs of prosecution.
Not long after, Cosby was then moved to State Correctional Institution at Phoenix, a state prison, for diagnostic and intake. There, his needs and health issues will be evaluated as officials decide which prison best suits him overall.
This process, which every inmate in the state prison system goes through, could take anywhere from weeks to months, Amy Worden of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections told CNN last week. Several factors go into this overall evaluation, including the prisoner’s age and Sexually Violent Predator assessment.
“The department of corrections has had high profile inmates before, and I’m sure we’ll have them again, so it’s not that much out of the ordinary,” Worden said.
“He’ll be treated like other inmates.”
See video of Cosby’s arrival at the Eagleville facility:
This post was updated.
Cosby accuser Lili Bernard, an actress who said Cosby drugged and raped her, told CNN that today’s verdict was a “hallelujah moment” for her despite feeling “mixed emotions” over its length.
“This is a momentous decision in the me-too era,” Bernard said. She added:
“It does indicate there is now a shift in the legal system that is now going to reflect modern culture and that now women’s voices are being believed and women’s lives are being valued.”
Watch more:
Bill Cosby’s PR representatives read out statements following the sentencing, decrying a “sex war” and referencing Jesus.
“I believe and think it is important to point out that this has been the most racist and sexist trial in the history of the United States,” said Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s publicist. He claimed that some of those who testified against Cosby were “white women who make money off of accusing black men of being sexual predators.”
Wyatt also tied Cosby’s verdict to the accusations leveled against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, claiming both were victims in a “sex war.” He did not elaborate.
Wyatt later referenced the persecution of Jesus, saying, Cosby “knows that these are lies. They persecuted Jesus and look what happened. Not saying Mr. Cosby’s Jesus, but we know what this country has done to black men for centuries.”
Ebonee Benson, another PR representative, read a statement on behalf of Cosby’s wife, Camille Cosby. Camille was not in court for the sentencing.
Camille’s statement decried “falsified evidence,” claiming that Cosby had not been granted his right to a fair trial.
Bill Cosby was able to hide his crimes for decades behind his fame and fortune, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said at a press conference following the sentencing.
The comedian once known as America’s Dad was especially able to hide behind wholesome character on “The Cosby Show,” Dr. Cliff Huxtable, Steele said.
“It was a seminal character on TV, and so was the family, but it was fiction,” Steele said.
He continued:
Steele said the “real” Bill Cosby has finally been revealed.
“Finally, Bill Cosby has been unmasked, and we saw the real man as he is headed off to prison,” he said.
Watch more:
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 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, 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 O’Neill has denied bail to Bill Cosby, according to a tweet from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office.
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.
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 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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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:
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
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 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.
Day one of Bill Cosby’s sentencing hearing just wrapped up.
Lawyers spent part of the morning arguing over whether it’s constitutional to label Cosby a “sexually violent predator” (SVP) and make him register as a sex offender.
A defense witness in the matter was unable to be reached, so the court couldn’t continue with the SVP hearing — and the actual sentencing can’t take place until after the SVP hearing (However, there can be sentencing testimony prior to that).
Court will resume tomorrow.
The Pennsylvania courtroom where Bill Cosby is being sentenced is on break until 1:30 p.m. ET.
Proceedings are underway in Montgomery County to sentence the 81-year-old comedian on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He was convicted in April.
Lawyers have been arguing over whether it’s constitutional to make Cosby register as a sex offender. Judge Steven T. O’Neill has not yet ruled on whether Cosby will be subjected to the sex offender designation.
Kristen Dudley, a psychologist and a member of the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, testified in state court that Cosby should be labeled a “sexually violent predator” because he has a mental disorder that involves urges toward non-consenting women. Dudley finished her examination just before the break.
Bill Cosby should be labeled a “sexually violent predator” because he has a mental disorder that involves urges toward non-consenting women, a prosecution expert said Monday during the comedian’s sentencing hearing on three counts of sexual assault.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill has not yet ruled on whether Cosby will be subjected to the sex offender designation. Proceedings are underway in Montgomery County to sentence the 81-year-old comedian on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He was convicted in April.
A state panel had advised that Cosby should be classified as a “sexually violent predator,” which would require him to register with state police and submit to sex offender counseling and community notification for life.
Cosby declined to participate in the evaluation by Dudley, who said she came to her determination by reviewing trial transcripts and other reports.
Monday’s sentencing comes as Cosby’s defense team, now led by attorney Joseph P. Green Jr., has accused Judge Steven T. O’Neill of bias and asked him to remove himself from the case – and to reverse an order that allowed the trial to happen in the first place.
At issue was a “nasty” personal conflict involving a prior district attorney, Bruce Castor, Cosby’s team argued. O’Neil last week denied the motion, calling it untimely and “wholly without merit,” court records show.
Camille Cosby, Bill Cosby’s wife, said in a statement that she had retained a former prosecutor to facilitate her efforts to “uncover the truth” regarding what she says is a feud between O’Neill and Castor.
Since the April verdicts, Cosby has not been permitted to leave his Pennsylvania home. If he wanted to leave the state for another home, he’d have to arrange it ahead of time and wear a GPS monitoring device, O’Neill ruled in April.
The judge ruled that the Sexually Violent Predator Assessment, and the current PA law dealing with sex offender registrations was constitutional.
Judge O’Neill cited several cases that he relied on for his decision, as well as PA law.
The judge overseeing Bill Cosby’s sentencing has called a break this morning to decide if the the Pennsylvania Sexually Violent Predator assessment and subsequent sex offender registration is constitutional.
Joseph Green, representing Cosby, briefly argued the law was unconstitutional, and could not be constitutionally applied to Cosby because it was punitive - and punishment without due process.
A Commonwealth Attorney said the Cosby was trying “to escape” the registration required for sexual predators. She said sex offender registration laws are not punitive, but a way to help citizens and their children protect themselves. She says the legislative intent was not punitive, but the legitimate interest to protect people and cited several cases, as she walked the judge through the three versions of the law which the legislature did to make it non-punitive.
The current law means that someone with a Sexually Violent Predator Assessment would require registering upon release, and then informing the PA State Police of changes in residence and employer, as well as a quarterly in-person check-in and counseling.
She highlighted some of Cosby’s arguments in his brief (like the argument that the registration would prevent him from spending time with his grandchildren, and there wouldn’t be time to apply to get off of the list because of his advanced age).
She says the test of constitutionality doesn’t question the direct impact on him, but people in general. She went on to say that nothing in the law would impact Cosby, if found to be a SVP, would prevent him from spending time with his grandkids.
It doesn’t restrict his movement, it doesn’t take away freedom of moment, “he just has to notify the state police and check in on a regular basis,” she countered.
The case at Bill Cosby’s retrial centered on testimony from Andrea Constand, a former employee with Temple University women’s basketball team.
She testified that Cosby, 80, a powerful Temple trustee, drugged her and sexually assaulted her when she visited his home to ask for career advice.
Here are four things we learned from her testimony:
And here’s what she tweeted earlier this morning:
Bill Cosby’s admission that he obtained prescription Quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with convinced at least one juror the comedian was guilty of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, that juror said.
Harrison Snyder, in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” said he believed Constand’s claim that Cosby assaulted her in 2004 at his home in a Philadelphia suburb.
And, Snyder, said, the testimony of five other accusers who testified was not necessary for the conviction.
The questions have been looming since Bill Cosby was convicted in April of three counts of assault: Will he go to prison, and, if so, for how long?
The answers will begin to emerge Monday, when the 81-year-old comedian appears in court in Pennsylvania for his sentencing. He could get up to 10 years in prison for each conviction, but prosecutors have indicated they are likely to ask for a lesser sentence. If he must serve time, he could be taken into custody immediately.
Defense attorneys are likely to point to Cosby’s age, declining health, history of philanthropic giving and the fact that this is his first criminal conviction as factors that show he should receive a short prison sentence – or none at all. In addition, Cosby could be allowed to remain out of prison until any legal appeal is resolved.
The decision is ultimately up to Judge Steven T. O’Neill, who oversaw Cosby’s 2018 retrial, as well as his mistrial a year earlier that ended in a hung jury.
O’Neill will also consider whether Cosby should be classified as a sexually violent predator. The distinction would subject Cosby to lifetime registration with state police, lifetime sex offender counseling and community notification. A state panel has said that should happen; his attorneys have argued the board’s process is unconstitutional.
The sentencing hearing, which could extend into Tuesday, could also feature testimony and victim impact statements from women, including Constand, who have accused Cosby of assault. Defense attorneys would be allowed to cross-examine witnesses, said Kate Delano, spokeswoman for the county prosecutor’s officer.
O’Neill last week denied prosecutors’ request to present “numerous” witnesses who would testify that Cosby sexually abused them in incidents that did not result in criminal charges, court records show.
Cosby also could address the court in an “allocution,” Delano said. Convicts typically use the opportunity, before a sentence is handed down, to beg for mercy.
No matter Cosby’s sentence, the guilty verdicts already have triggered an outpouring of emotion from his victims.
Andrea Constand, the woman Bill Cosby was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting, just arrived to the Pennsylvania courthouse.
Cosby has also walked into the court room.
The doors to the courtroom are now closed.
Bill Cosby just walked into court on the arm of his publicist Andrew Wyatt. At one point he pointed to the crowd outside the Pennsylvania courthouse.
Several of the Cosby accusers who were in Pennsylvania for the trial have returned, including Lili Bernard and Therese Serignese. These women were not among the prior bad act witnesses that testified.
Janice Dickinson — who did testify as a prior bad act witness at trial — is also in court this morning.
Meanwhile, the woman Cosby was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting, Andrea Constand, tweeted a bible verse this morning:
Bill Cosby’s case was the first celebrity sexual assault trial since the #MeToo movement began last fall, and many saw it as a test of whether the cultural shift the movement has brought about would translate in court.
“What was revealed through this investigation was a man who had spent decades preying on women that he drugged and sexually assaulted, and a man who evaded this moment right here far too long,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele told reporters.
A jury found Bill Cosby guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault on April 26, for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in a Philadelphia suburb in 2004.
The 80-year-old comedian faces up to 10 years in prison on each count, but Cosby is likely to serve them concurrently. Cosby has been out on bail.
This is what happened at the trial:
