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| Bill Cosby sentencing hearing caps fall from grace for 'America's Dad' | Bill Cosby sentencing hearing caps fall from grace for 'America's Dad' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Bill Cosby is facing prison time as he is sentenced this week for sexual assault, capping a stunning fall from grace for a man who was once one of America’s most popular entertainers. | Bill Cosby is facing prison time as he is sentenced this week for sexual assault, capping a stunning fall from grace for a man who was once one of America’s most popular entertainers. |
| Cosby arrived in court on Monday morning for a two-day sentencing hearing, where Judge Steven O’Neill will decide his fate at the Montgomery county courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. | Cosby arrived in court on Monday morning for a two-day sentencing hearing, where Judge Steven O’Neill will decide his fate at the Montgomery county courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. |
| More than 60 women have accused the 81-year-old Cosby – a once-beloved actor and comedian known as “America’s Dad” – of sexual assault, but it’s a single case, the only one to result in criminal charges, that could land him behind bars. | More than 60 women have accused the 81-year-old Cosby – a once-beloved actor and comedian known as “America’s Dad” – of sexual assault, but it’s a single case, the only one to result in criminal charges, that could land him behind bars. |
| Cosby was convicted in April on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in the suburbs of Philadelphia in 2004. | Cosby was convicted in April on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in the suburbs of Philadelphia in 2004. |
| He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on each charge, but state guidelines recommend a sentence of about one to four years. | He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison on each charge, but state guidelines recommend a sentence of about one to four years. |
| As the hearing got underway, O’Neill declared that the Pennsylvania sex offender law that could designate Cosby a violent predator is constitutional, settling a rumbling argument. | As the hearing got underway, O’Neill declared that the Pennsylvania sex offender law that could designate Cosby a violent predator is constitutional, settling a rumbling argument. |
| He rejected Cosby’s lawyers’ claim that the law was overly punitive. | He rejected Cosby’s lawyers’ claim that the law was overly punitive. |
| Kristen Dudley, a psychologist and member of the state sexual offender assessment board, told the court she recommended that Cosby be classified as a sexually violent predator. | Kristen Dudley, a psychologist and member of the state sexual offender assessment board, told the court she recommended that Cosby be classified as a sexually violent predator. |
| “Mr Cosby has been engaging in this behavior for over 30 years,” she said. “Mr Cosby repeatedly engaged in grooming and sexual offending behavior with young adult females.” | “Mr Cosby has been engaging in this behavior for over 30 years,” she said. “Mr Cosby repeatedly engaged in grooming and sexual offending behavior with young adult females.” |
| Dudley said that Cosby’s behavior suggests a mental disorder – specifically a paraphilia, or abnormal sexual interest, in non-consenting women. | Dudley said that Cosby’s behavior suggests a mental disorder – specifically a paraphilia, or abnormal sexual interest, in non-consenting women. |
| She said his conduct toward Constand bears the marks of a predator: he befriended her when she worked for Temple University, where he was a major donor, and then used her trust to assault her. | She said his conduct toward Constand bears the marks of a predator: he befriended her when she worked for Temple University, where he was a major donor, and then used her trust to assault her. |
| “He used that friendship, he used that relationship, that trust that had developed between them to take advantage of her,” she said. | “He used that friendship, he used that relationship, that trust that had developed between them to take advantage of her,” she said. |
| Cosby’s lawyer are expected to fight against the violent predator designation later Monday. | Cosby’s lawyer are expected to fight against the violent predator designation later Monday. |
| Constand had gotten to know Cosby when she was managing the women’s basketball team at Temple University. She testified that the TV star gave her three blue pills, which caused her to pass out. She awoke to find Cosby digitally penetrating her, touching her breasts, and placing her hand on his genitals. | Constand had gotten to know Cosby when she was managing the women’s basketball team at Temple University. She testified that the TV star gave her three blue pills, which caused her to pass out. She awoke to find Cosby digitally penetrating her, touching her breasts, and placing her hand on his genitals. |
| The trial – his second, after the jury in a first trial failed to reach a verdict – was the first of a celebrity accused of sexual assault since the beginning of the #MeToo movement. | The trial – his second, after the jury in a first trial failed to reach a verdict – was the first of a celebrity accused of sexual assault since the beginning of the #MeToo movement. |
| Cosby plans to appeal against the conviction, and his lawyers will probably argue for leniency considering his age and frail health. He is legally blind. | |
| The former entertainer – once known for his starring role on The Cosby Show – has never admitted wrongdoing. He maintains his encounters with Constand and other women were consensual. | The former entertainer – once known for his starring role on The Cosby Show – has never admitted wrongdoing. He maintains his encounters with Constand and other women were consensual. |
| Cosby and his legal team have repeatedly but unsuccessfully tried to get rid of the judge in the case, calling him biased. | Cosby and his legal team have repeatedly but unsuccessfully tried to get rid of the judge in the case, calling him biased. |
| O’Neill has refused to step down. | O’Neill has refused to step down. |
| At Cosby’s trial earlier this year, five women besides Constand testified that he had assaulted them. | At Cosby’s trial earlier this year, five women besides Constand testified that he had assaulted them. |
| The judge barred a request by prosecutors to call a parade of accusers to testify at the sentencing hearing. | The judge barred a request by prosecutors to call a parade of accusers to testify at the sentencing hearing. |
| Cosby will have a chance to speak on his own behalf if he chooses. | Cosby will have a chance to speak on his own behalf if he chooses. |
| The disgraced entertainer has been under house arrest since his conviction. At sentencing, the judge will also have to decide whether he can remain free on bail while he pursues an appeal of his conviction. | The disgraced entertainer has been under house arrest since his conviction. At sentencing, the judge will also have to decide whether he can remain free on bail while he pursues an appeal of his conviction. |
| Bill Cosby | Bill Cosby |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
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| Rape and sexual assault | Rape and sexual assault |
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