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Pennsylvania courts released Bill Cosby from prison on Wednesday after serving only 2 years behind bars. How did this famous alleged power predator escape justice? Read on to get the details.
Bill Cosby Released From Prison
After just over two years behind bars, former actor, comedian, and television host, Bill Cosby walked out of a Pennsylvania prison as a free man.
Yeah, no – we’re not kidding.
83-year-old Bill Cosby is getting sprung from the clank. He served only a fraction of his original 3-10 year sentence. The former Kids Say the Darndest Things host got arrested in 2018 when “new evidence” came to light in regards to his sexual assault charges. The victim, Andrea Constand, reported being drugged and violated by Cosby in her home in 2004.
Two years later- it appears that the case was purposefully mishandled. Cosby’s defense team went to bat to fight for his freedom – not based on innocence but on a technicality. The defense claims that the mishandling of his initial case resulted in a “violation” of his rights. Ironic, eh?
Bill’s Get Out Of Jail Free Card
So, to recap briefly – Andrea initially reported her grievances to the current Montgomery County DA, Bruce Castor back in 2005. Castor actively “disagreed” with formally charging Cosby. Instead, he worked out a deal with Bill. Castor agreed not to prosecute him on these charges in exchange for deposition testimony. Cosby agreed and settled in civil court with Constand for a sum of $3.38 million dollars.
In his deposition interview, the man is formerly known as “America’s Dad,” admitted to drugging women with the intent of facilitating the opportunity to initiate intercourse with them. People reports that he also admitted to numerous extramarital affairs.
An Official F*** Up
Bill Cosby lived a free man for several more years until his luck changed in 2015. Bruce Castor had recently left his post as Montgomery’s DA. His replacement, Kevin Steele, made the decision to press charges right before the statute of limitations would have ended. During the trial – the “new evidence” presented included audio from Cosby’s initial deposition. Because of the agreement, the testimony should have been off-limits. Unfortunately for Cosby, Castor never publicized the agreement. So, while Steele, Castor, and Cosby knew about it – the judge did not. The deposition got allowed into evidence. This ultimately led to his conviction.
According to The Sun Chronicle, Kevin Steele should have followed the terms of Castor’s agreement. He, however, disagreed with that agreement and chose to move forward with the charges.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules on Bill Cosby’s Case
Despite the fact that Bill Cosby HAD admitted to his wrongdoings for the original civil suit deposition, legally, he shouldn’t have been tried for the same accusations. Unfortunately, the fact that the initial DA decided to bow to celebrity power and not prosecute a rape case might be morally disgusting – but still legally binding.
Now, the celeb’s victims are grieving his release as he walks a free man.
Not all of the Justices wanted Cosby to go free. The majority, however, agree that his release was legally necessary. Justice David Wecht, spoke for the panel, explaining that the evidence that led to Cosby’s conviction was only given as a result of Castor’s agreement. The court maintains that Steele’s actions were “an affront to fundamental fairness, particularly when it results in a criminal prosecution that was forgone for more than a decade.” Additionally, the court says that using the deposition as evidence was a direct violation of Cosby’s 5th amendment right to not self-incriminate.
It’s important to note – that the court was not ruling on his guilt or innocence. In fact – he has already admitted his guilt. The Justices ruled on the judicial misconduct of the prosecution. Wecht told the court that releasing Cosby “is the only remedy that comports with society’s reasonable expectations of its elected prosecutors and our criminal justice system.”
Gloria Allred Comforts Victims
In response to Cosby’s conviction being overturned, Gloria Allred had a message for his victims and the public. Allred represented several of Cosby’s accusers during the lengthy court battle and is well aware of how demoralizing and devastating this loss is for them. In a press statement made just after the close of the case, Allred told reporters, that her heart goes out to his victims, especially those who bravely testified in the case. She also reminds the public that this ruling was strictly based on the mishandling of the case – not on Cosby’s guilt.
“Despite the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision, this was an important fight for justice and even though the court overturned the conviction on technical grounds, it did not vindicate Bill Cosby’s conduct and should not be interpreted as a statement or a finding that he did not engage in the acts of which he has been accused.”
-Gloria Allred
Bill Cosby will walk out of prison today as a free man.
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