Pennsylvania Jury Finds Bill Cosby Guilty On All Counts Of Aggravated Indecent Assault

Almost a year after his initial trial resulted in a mistrial, a Pennsylvania jury has found Bill Cosby guilty of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee. Cosby’s conviction marks one of the first major legal wins since the start of the MeToo movement.

Constand alleged that in 2004 Cosby raped her after supplying pills he claimed would “relieve stress,” but ultimately left her incapacitated. 

“I wanted it to stop,” testified Constand. “I couldn’t say anything. I was trying to get my hands to move, my legs to move, and the message just wasn’t getting there.”

Constand had worked at Cosby’s alma mater and said that, at the time, she had considered the comedian – who served on the school’s board of trustees – a type of mentor.

In the past four years, more than 50 women have come forward with stories similar to Constand’s – each claiming Cosby had drugged and sexually assaulted them while they lay unconscious or unable to move. A majority of the women, however, could not seek legal justice since the statute of limitation had run out.

Whereas the previous trial only permitted Constand’s testimony along with one other accuser, this trial allowed five of Cosby’s accusers to serve as “prior bad acts” witnesses. In addition, the settlement which had been reached between Cosby and Constand (totaling $3.4 million) was also disclosed during the trial, unlike the trial in 2017. 

The Montgomery County jury, comprised of seven men and five women, deliberated for less than two days and found Cosby guilty on all charges: penetration with lack of consent, penetration while unconscious, and penetration after administering an intoxicant. The 80-year-old comedian – once dubbed “America’s dad” – could face up to 30 years in prison.

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