Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III

The Case Against Bill Cosby Part I

American comedian Bill Cosbyhas been the subject of publicized sexual assault allegations and wasconvicted of aggravated indecent assault in 2018 before theconviction was vacated by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on June30, 2021. He has been accused by approximately 60 women of rape,drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse,and sexual misconduct. The earliest incidents allegedly took place inthe mid-1960s. Assault allegations against Cosby became more publicafter a stand-up routine by comedian Hannibal Buress in October 2014,alluding to Cosby's covert sexual misbehavior; thereafter, manyadditional claims were made. The dates of the alleged incidents havespanned from 1965 to 2008 in ten U.S. states and in one Canadianprovince.

Cosby has maintained his innocenceand repeatedly denied the allegations made against him. He was askedabout the allegations in November 2014 and responded, "Idon't talk about it!" He has declined to publicly discussthe accusations in interviews in the past, although he told FloridaToday that "people shouldn't have to go through that andshouldn't answer to innuendos." In May 2015, he said, "Ihave been in this business 52 years and I've never seen anything likethis. Reality is a situation and I can't speak."

Following the allegations, numerousorganizations severed ties with Cosby and revoked honors and titlespreviously awarded to him. Media organizations pulled reruns of TheCosby Show and other television programs featuring Cosby fromsyndication. Twenty-five colleges and universities rescinded honorarydegrees. Adweek reporter Jason Lynch noted that the "medialandscape has changed considerably—and has now been joined by thefar-less-forgiving social media arena."

Most of the alleged acts fall outsidethe statute of limitations for criminal legal proceedings, butcriminal charges were filed against Cosby in one case and numerouscivil lawsuits were brought against him. As of November 2015, eightrelated civil suits were active against him. Gloria Allredrepresented 33 of the alleged victims. In July 2015, some courtrecords were unsealed and released to the public from AndreaConstand's 2005 civil suit against Cosby. The full transcript of hisdeposition was released to the media by a court reporting service. Inhis testimony, Cosby admitted to casual sex involving recreationaluse of the sedative-hypnotic methaqualone (Quaaludes) with a seriesof young women, and he acknowledged that his dispensing theprescription drug was illegal.

In December 2015, three Class IIfelony charges of aggravated indecent assault were filed againstCosby in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, based on allegations byConstand concerning incidents in January 2004. Cosby's first trial inJune 2017 ended in a mistrial. Cosby was found guilty of three countsof aggravated indecent assault at retrial on April 26, 2018 and onSeptember 25, 2018, he was sentenced to three to ten years in stateprison and fined $25,000 plus the cost of the prosecution, $43,611.Cosby appealed on June 25, 2019 and the verdict was subsequentlyupheld and granted an appeal by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

On June 30, 2021, the PennsylvaniaSupreme Court found that an agreement with a previous prosecutorprevented Cosby from being charged in the case, and overruled theconviction. The Supreme Court's decision prevents him from beingtried on the same charges a third time.

Allegations

1965–1996 allegations