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Bill Cosby Exits Prison After Pennsylvania's Highest Court Overturns Sexual Assault Convictions

© AP Photo / John Minchillocomedian Bill Cosby performs at the Stand Up for Heroes event at Madison Square Garden in New York. Three women who claim they were victimized by Cosby are scheduled to appear at a news conference called by attorney Gloria Allred, on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
comedian Bill Cosby performs at the Stand Up for Heroes event at Madison Square Garden in New York. Three women who claim they were victimized by Cosby are scheduled to appear at a news conference called by attorney Gloria Allred, on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.  - Sputnik International, 1920, 30.06.2021
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In September 2018, Pennsylvania Judge Steven T. O’Neill sentenced Bill Cosby to three to 10 years behind bars, five months after Cosby was convicted of sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand in January 2004. Cosby, once heralded as "America's Dad," was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent sexual assault.

Bill Cosby exited the State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Shippack, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, just hours after the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania overturned the 2019 sexual assault convictions against the 83-year-old.

At the time of his release on June 30, Cosby had already served more than two years of the now-vacated three to 10-year sentence.

Per the high court's ruling, the initial 2005 "non-prosecution agreement" with then-Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr. should have prevented Cosby from being charged in relation to the case some 10 years later. 

"In light of these circumstances, the subsequent decision by successor D.A.s to prosecute Cosby violated Cosby's due process rights," wrote Justice David Wecht. "There is only one remedy that can completely restore Cosby to the status quo ante. He must be discharged, and any future prosecution on these particular charges must be barred." 

After Castor left office in 2008, his successors moved to reopen the case and ultimately slapped Cosby with charges related to the drugging and molestation of Andrea Constand.

Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele issued charges shortly before the 12-year period expired for the crime's statute of limitations. 

© AP Photo / Jacqueline LarmaBill Cosby is escorted out of the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Tuesday Sept. 25, 2018, in Eagleville, Pa., following his sentencing to three-to-10-year prison sentence for sexual assault.
Bill Cosby Exits Prison After Pennsylvania's Highest Court Overturns Sexual Assault Convictions - Sputnik International, 1920, 30.06.2021
Bill Cosby is escorted out of the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, Tuesday Sept. 25, 2018, in Eagleville, Pa., following his sentencing to three-to-10-year prison sentence for sexual assault.

Constand, who is gay, alleged that on a night in January 2004, Cosby gave her what he referred to as a type of herbal medication, according to a probable cause affidavit. At the time, Constand was in a relationship with a woman, and claimed she saw Cosby as her mentor. 

"I said, 'One night around this time last year I was invited to Mr. Cosby’s house and he gave me pills and he sexually violated me without me consenting,'" Constand said, recounting to detectives what she told her mother. 

An arrest affidavit declared that Cosby was "fondling [Constand's] breasts, put his hand in her pants" and "penetrated her vagina with his fingers." The affidavit also claimed Cosby - 35 years Constand's senior - "took her right hand and placed it on his penis." 

Numerous sexual assault allegations were leveled against the now-83-year-old during the inception of the #MeToo movement, which seeks to highlight allegations of sexual assault and/or the abuse of power. The polarizing movement has primarily focused on rich and powerful men, including male celebrities.  

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