Bill Cosby leaving court on Thursday after being found guilty of sexual assault. | Credit Dominick Reuter/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Ryann Kahler
Bill Cosby is looking at the possibility of 30 years behind bars after his conviction Thursday on three counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Cosby’s defense team plans to appeal the guilty verdict on the grounds that the decision to allow five other accusers to testify at the trial unfairly prejudiced the jury.
His new defense team launched an attack on Andrea Constand, the Toronto native and Temple University employee who accused Cosby of drugging and molesting her back in 2004.
During the trial, Cosby’s defense called Constand a “con artist” and “pathological liar” who framed Cosby in hopes to get rich.
His defense also stated that the other accusers are home-wreckers and suggested their stories were made up to attract fame and money.
Feminists are calling the overall verdict, a turning point for the #MeToo movement.
Six Black feminists speak out about #BillCosby conviction #MeToohttps://t.co/1Iuc1lUrRm
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) April 27, 2018
Cosby’s case was the only criminal case to arise from the allegations of more than 60 women accusing Cosby of sexual assault and molestation over the span of five decades.
Most of those voices went unrecognized, ignored or were disbelieved years before the #MeToo movement shined a spotlight on sexual misconduct.
Since the beginning of Cosby’s trial, the #MeToo movement has brought down many powerful men including, Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken.
The verdict of Thursday’s trial has resulted in mixed emotions.
real pic of me praying that #metoo has actually changed how the justice system treats women in sexual assault cases and that #billcosby wasn’t just guilty of being black pic.twitter.com/5QfpySibDV
— Raf Wilcot (@rafwilcot) April 27, 2018
Congratulations fellow @ASIJ alumna @LiliBernard and to all the beautiful women in #billcosby trial ~ with @GloriaAllred
“A #victoryforwomanhood in the ongoing #metoo movement” #moraluniversehttps://t.co/84rj8eQgK8— Tia Dobi (@TiaDobi) April 27, 2018
#MeToo Matt Lauer another sexual accused still free. Yet #BillCosby goes to court. More proof that this movement is bullshit. pic.twitter.com/JWhXUZYpKr
— Jay Truth (@jaytruth1979) April 27, 2018
A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Cosby must face assessment to determine if he is a sexually violent predator.
He will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law.