Bill Cosby facing years in jail as sexual abuse sentencing begins

Bill Cosby arrives for his sentencing hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse on Monday
AP
James Morris24 September 2018

A US judge has begun deliberations over Bill Cosby’s sentence for sexual assault.

Cosby, who once had a family-friendly reputation with his 1980s comedy “The Cosby Show”, was the first celebrity to be convicted since the start of the #MeToo movement.

More than 50 other women have since accused him of sexual abuse going back decades.

Bill Cosby arrives with his spokesman Andrew Wyatt at the Montgomery County Courthouse for sentencing in his sexual assault trial
AFP/Getty Images

Cosby arrived at the courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on Monday.

Activist Bird Milliken demonstrates outside the Montgomery County Courthouse with an effigy of Bill Cosby in a shopping cart outside the Montgomery County Courthouse
Getty Images

He was walking with a cane and holding the arm of his spokesman, Andrew Wyatt.

Bill Cosby arrives at the Montgomery County Courthouse
Reuters

A number of accusers, including model Janice Dickinson, were on hand for the sentencing hearing, which is expected to last two days.

Former model Janice Dickinson arrives at the sentencing hearing for the sexual assault trial of entertainer Bill Cosby
Getty Images

Cosby faces up to 10 years on each of the three counts of aggravated indecent assault, although US law experts said it is unlikely judge Steven O'Neill would go as high as 30 years.

Disgraced US television icon Bill Cosby returns to a Pennsylvania court to face sentencing for sexual assault
AFP/Getty Images

Mr O'Neill heard arguments on Monday on whether to formally deem Cosby a "sexually violent predator" under state law.

Bill Cosby arrives for his sentencing hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse
AP

If so, Cosby will have to undergo monthly counselling and register as a sex offender with police for the rest of his life, rather than for just 10 years.

Prosecutors are expected to seek a lengthy sentence, citing the nature of Cosby's crime as well as his alleged history of misconduct.

Defence lawyers will likely point to Cosby's age, frailty and failing vision.

Prosecutors had asked Mr O'Neill for permission to call an unspecified number of accusers as witnesses during the sentencing hearing, but the judge denied that request last week.

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