William Henry Cosby Jr., a prominent American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, author could be classified as a “sexually violent predator” if an evaluation by Pennsylvania’s Sexual Offenders Assessment Board is accepted by the judge.
Cosby has been the subject of highly publicized sexual assault allegations. The earliest incidents allegedly took place in the mid-1960s. Numerous women have accused Cosby of rape, drug facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse, and sexual misconduct.
In October 2014, comedian Hannibal Buress played a comedy routine that alluded to Cosby’s covert sexual misbehavior. The routine went viral, which caused assault allegations against Cosby to become more public.
Many additional claims were made after that date. The dates of the alleged incidents span from 1965 to 2008 across ten U.S. states and one Canadian province.
In December 2015, three Class II felony charges of aggravated indecent assault were filed against Cosby in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Cosby’s first trial, in June 2017, ended in a mistrial. In a retrial by a jury, he was found guilty on April 26, 2018, of three counts of aggravated indecent assault. His sentencing date is set for September 24, 2018.
Governor Tom Wolf in April applauded his District Attorney and the fearless victims for the conviction of sexual offender Bill Cosby.
“The conviction of Bill Cosby on all three counts of assault is vindication for his many victims and the service of justice for Mr. Cosby’s heinous and cruel crimes,” said Governor Wolf.
“To use any level of celebrity and power to prey on women is unforgivable and deplorable. I could not be more pleased with the verdict handed down today and I hope it provides some level of comfort to the victims of sexual assault across Pennsylvania and the country. The women who have come forward are strong and brave, and they have delivered hope to the countless women whose abusers have yet to be held accountable,” he said.
Adding: “I thank Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele for his tireless work to bring this case to its successful resolution.”
Pennsylvania Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm said: “Today’s conviction of Bill Cosby serves as true vindication and validation of all the brave women who have come forward with similar stories of sexual assault.”
She added, “The victims who have watched their offender walk above the law because of his status will hopefully feel redemption in the face of all the speculation and condemnation they have endured over these years. Today, justice was served.”
The District Attorney’s office that successfully prosecuted Cosby asked a judge in a filing on Tuesday to schedule a hearing on whether to accept the recommendation of the Board to classify the actor as a “sexually violent predator”. No date was immediately set.
“We will see them in court,” responded Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s spokesman.