HOLLYWOOD, CA — In a move refuting one of the earliest and most prominent criminal convictions of the MeToo era, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Bill Cosby's sexual assault sentence Wednesday. The ruling also bars Cosby from being tried in this case ever again.
Ushering in the #MeToo movement which sought to expose and imprison longtime sexual abusers who had previously escaped punishment, Cosby was the first among a slew of powerful men brought to a reckoning over charges that he abused his power for sexual gain. In the aftermath of his case, many Hollywood power figures were similarly charged with sexual abuse, perhaps most notably Harvey Weinstein, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being convicted of rape and assault.
Cosby, now 83, was sentenced to three to 10 years after being convicted of drugging and sexually abusing Andrea Constand inside his Cheltenham home in 2004.
Justices ruled that Cosby could not be charged due to an immunity agreement he had in place with the former Montgomery County District Attorney, Bruce Castor. That agreement, oft-cited during the years leading up to Cosby's trial and eventual conviction, included damning testimony in which Cosby admitted he gave quaaludes to women.
Cosby has been booked in Montgomery County's SCI Phoenix since Sept. 2018. His legal team has been pursuing every avenue to secure his release, and all the while Cosby has refused to admit guilt, citing everything from the coronavirus pandemic to institutional racism as the reasons for his incarceration.
In the majority opinion filed in Pennsylvania Wednesday, the state Supreme Court acknowledged the "strong interest" of society in holding the powerful to account, while explaining why they thought Cosby must be released.
"It is also true that no such interest, however important, ever can eclipse society's interest in ensuring that the constitutional rights of the people are vindicated," the opinion reads. "Society's interest in prosecution does not displace the remedy due to constitutionally aggrieved persons."
It is not yet clear exactly when Cosby will be released from prison, although multiple media sources say it will happen Wednesday.
Dozens of women have come forward with similar allegations of abuse against Cosby since Constand's case became public, although this is the first case that was brought to criminal trial.
Although he was first accused of sexual abuse in 2004, the allegations didn't receive widespread attention until 2014, when comedian Hannibal Buress mocked Cosby and called him a rapist during a standup comedy routine in Philadelphia.
He accused Cosby of hypocrisy for holding himself up as morally superior when he was the focus of longstanding rape allegations.
"He gets on TV, 'Pull your pants up black people, I was on TV in the '80s! I can talk down to you because I had a successful sitcom!' Yeah, but you rape women, Bill Cosby, so turn the crazy down a couple notches," Buress said during the routine.
Cosby's prosecution prompted women to come forward with allegations against other powerful Hollywood figures that they had long kept quiet about.
Currently, "That '70's Show" actor Danny Masterson is on trial for three charges of felony rape, stemming from accusations that he raped three different women at his home in the Hollywood Hills between 2001 and 2003.
Other Hollywood figures who were accused of sexual assault during the #MeToo movement, but either were not been convicted or had their charges dropped including Kevin Spacey, Marilyn Manson and Steven Seagal.
Several actors and other entertainment figures condemned the news of his release on Twitter.
"I know many young women and men who are so afraid to press charges against their rapist and re-traumatize themselves," actress Rosanna Arquette said. "I am heartbroken today to hear of the news of Cosby's release. this is sickening. My heart is with my sister survivors. We have work to do."
See more reactions from Hollywood below.
I know many young women and men who are so Afraid to press charges against their rapist and Re traumatize themselves I am heartbroken today to hear of the news of Cosby's release .this is sickening. My heart is with my sister survivors. We have work to do.
— rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) June 30, 2021
I'm enraged, heartbroken and disgusted by Cosby's release. I can only imagine what all his survivors must be feeling. This convicted rapist is free today because he is a man of privilege. The Patriarchy rears it's ugly head yet again.
— Christine Lahti (@ChristineALahti) June 30, 2021
Pay close attention to those celebrating Bill Cosby and remember them pic.twitter.com/mmvbzgV447
— Corey "The Buttercream Dream" Forrester (@CoreyRForrester) June 30, 2021
Read the full Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision here.
This is a breaking story. Refresh the page for details as they become available.
Patch staffer Justin Heinze contributed to this report.
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