Bill Cosby's Appeal For Lesser Sentence, New Trial Denied

NORRISTOWN, PA — Bill Cosby's appeal for a lesser sentence or a new trial was denied Tuesday, a Montgomery County Judge determined.

Cosby is a few weeks into a three to 10 year sentence in state prison after being convicted of drugging and sexually assautling a woman. His first formal plea for leniency was rejected about two weeks after it was submitted.

Attorneys for the former comedian, 81, will regroup and consider their next step. Cosby recently hired yet another new attorney, the New York Times reported Monday, marking the 20th lawyer and 12th law firm employed in Cosby's defense.

"It is time to move on. It is time for the appellate courts to bring this case one step closer to finality," the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office wrote in their response to Cosby's appeal of the sentence and request for a retrial.

Cosby's new lawyers, from a Harrisburg-based firm, are Brian W. Perry, Barbara A. Zemlock, and Kristen L. Weisenberger. Over the past several years, Cosby's attorneys have included famed Philadelphia lawyer Brian McMonagle and former Michael Jackson attorney Tom Mesereau.

In the new motion, under "reasons for allowing a new trial in the interest of justice," Cosby's lawyers allege that there is proof that Cosby was not even in his Cheltenham home on the dates which prosecutors said the assault occurred. Lawyers also wrote that because Cosby hasn't been accused of anything recently, he is not a threat to the public, and therefore the sentence is too harsh. In denying the motion for appeal, Judge O'Neill found there was no validity in those claims.

See more recent Patch coverage on the Cosby case below:

• Bill Cosby Sentenced To State Prison
• Bill Cosby To Serve Prison Sentence At SCI Phoenix In Montco
• Bill Cosby Hit With Hot Dog Bun On Rough 1st Day In Jail: Report
• O.J. Simpson Says Bill Cosby Is In Danger In Prison: Report

Photo by Montgomery County Correctional Facility via Getty Images