Bill Cosby's Appeal To Overturn Sex Assault Conviction Denied

NORRISTOWN, PA — Bill Cosby will remain behind bars in Montgomery County, as the appeal of his sexual assault conviction was denied Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

The legal team for the former comedian, now 82, had filed a lengthy appeal back in June that challenged the legality of the testimony given in his trial by other women who accused him of similar crimes.

The appeal — which somehow managed to fill four large filing boxes — claimed that there were eight instances in Cosby's 2018 trial where other women should not have been allowed to testify because their allegations were not similar to the allegations of Andrea Constand, the woman who brought Cosby to criminal trial. It also argued that Cosby's prior deposition, in which he references giving Quaaludes to women, should not have been played at the trial.

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In each instance, the Superior Court rejected the points made in the appeal, backing up what Judge Steven T. O'Neill had previously called a "chilling" similarity in the allegations.

Cosby's representatives said in a statement that the decision was "appalling and disappointing," and as they and Cosby have consistently done for years now, instead pointed to what they see as corruption in the justice system.

"Mr. Cosby’s deposition should have never been considered at the trial," the statement reads in part. "It’s obvious that these judges’ minds were made up because they didn’t take the time to dissect Mr. Cosby’s appeal. We’re not shocked because it shows the world that this isn’t about justice, but this is a political scheme to destroy Mr. Cosby."

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Representatives added that Cosby "remained hopeful" and that they intended to take the case on to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The man who prosecuted Cosby, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, seemed optimistic that might not happen. He said he hoped this would mark the completion of the "last guaranteed step in the criminal justice process."

"(I hope) Andrea Constand can finally put this assault behind her and move on with her life as the strong survivor she is," Steele said. "She came to law enforcement almost 15 years ago seeking justice for what was done to her. Her bravery in coming forward when she did to report a sexual assault by a powerful, famous man led to the subsequent exposure of him as a serial predator and served as an example to other women, giving them the needed courage to step up and stand up against sexual assault. The world is forever changed because of Andrea’s bravery. With this decision, it has been affirmed that no one is above the law.“"

Cosby is a little more than a year and a half into a 3-10 year sentence for aggravated indecent assault, which he is serving at SCI Phoenix in Montgomery County.