Thread by @juliareinstein

I’m in Norristown, PA today, where Bill Cosby is being sentenced after being found guilty of sexual assault in April. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

(I’ll need to go dark while in the courtroom, but will tweet when I can.)

A protester at the Cosby sentencing just arrived - rolling a shopping cart with a Cosby mannequin in it - to protest the statute of limitations on rape allegations

Bird Milliken tells me the goal is to change the statute of limitations so all of Cosby’s victims could have pursued justice “so there’s never another Bill Cosby.”

Cosby just arrived to the courthouse for his sentencing

Judge has not yet ruled whether to deem Cosby a "sexually violent predator." Dr. Kristen Dudley, a member of the sex offender assessment board, said he meets the criteria for "other specified paraphilic disorder" and meets criteria to be deemed an SVP.

Paraphilia is a catch-all diagnosis referring to abnormal, dangerous sexual behaviors, and Cosby meets the criteria for this in regards to "nonconsenting women," said Dudley. Dudley says "people with paraphilia are likely to reoffend.”

Cosby's lawyer has a witness to bring in the SVP ruling, named Dr. Foley, who is not here today for some reason. They can't sentence without making the SVP ruling, and the judge can't deny calling a witness, so...we're going to be here a while.

We just broke for lunch and the judge is asking Cosby's lawyer, Joseph P. Green, to contact Foley and ask if there's anyway he can come in today. If not, judge said they will proceed with testimony today. Seems likely that sentencing won't be completed until tomorrow though.

We just wrapped for the day — SVP ruling and sentencing won't come till tomorrow. We did, however, heard testimony from Andrea Constand and her family, and arguments from both sides. I'll share some of what was said.

Andrea Constand spoke for under a minute, saying just this: “Your honor, I have testified. I have given you my victim impact statement. The jury heard me. Mr. Cosby heard me. All I am asking for is justice as the court sees fit.”

Gianna Constand, Andrea's mother, said her daughter's sexual assault is a "nightmare I have been living as a mother," and has personally caused her emotional and physical ailments.

"The victims cannot be unraped," she said. "All we can do is hold the perpetrators accountable."

Andrew Constand, her father, said Andrea was always a happy person but "in 2005 when my daughter returned from Philadelphia, many aspects of her happy demeanor had changed." She was "depressed, volatile, slow to react to questions, and had become detached from our family unit."

Andrew Constand said he started taking Ativan to sleep after finding out what had happened to his daughter and "today, many years later, I take double the medication."

"The thought of what happened to my daughter will be with me forever like a dark cloud hanging over my head."

Diane Parsons, her sister, said "many people ask me how Andrea's doing."

"I always answer, 'She's doing fine, thank you.' I wonder how she really is doing. How can she handle being called a pathological liar, being called a con artist, a drug addict?"

"How can she handle all the negativity about her in the media," Parsons continued, "Being called a racist individual, a gold digger, that she pulled off her plan?"

Cosby's lawyer, Joseph P. Green, argued that the DA's "election campaign was public advocacy."

"Why is it important to follow the rules? Because the court of public opinion can become so frenzied it can swallow the rule of law," he said.

Cosby's lawyer argued he's too old to reoffend.

"Mr. Cosby is not dangerous. 81-year-old blind men who are not self-sufficient are not dangerous...His age makes the circumstances of this offense unlikely to reoccur. Incarceration would pose excessive hardship on him," said Green

DA Kevin Steele spoke impassionedly, arguing that Cosby should be given max sentence of 5-10 years in state prison "because of the showing again and again of no acceptance of responsibility for his actions, no remorse...He seemingly doesn't think that he's done anything wrong."

"This is about a person who put himself in a situation of being a mentor," said DA Steele. "But we know he had other intentions right from the beginning."

"Why did he get seven prescriptions for quaaludes? He didn't use them. To use them on women he wanted to have sex with," said DA Steele.

"He said he did it," said DA Steele. "He said it in the deposition, he says it in the statement. It wasn't complicated. But he seemingly doesn't recognize that's wrong, that it's wrong to drug somebody and sexually assault them. That's where we come back to the lack of remorse."

"To say that he's too old to do that, to say that he should get a pass because it's taken this long to catch up to what he's done," said DA Steele. "What they're asking for is a Get Out Of Jail Free card."

Steele said Cosby “would be far from the oldest person in that facility” if he goes to state prison, and that they’d be able to accomodate his age and blindness.

“Nobody’s above the law. Nobody,” said Steele. “I’m confident you won’t treat him differently than you’d treat others that have committed this type of offense.”

And that's a wrap for today. I'll be back in the courthouse tomorrow, where Cosby will be sentenced and a ruling will be made on whether to classify him as a sexually violent predator.

Today, we find out if Bill Cosby is going to jail.

I’m heading back to the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, PA, where a judge will sentence Cosby and decide whether he will be deemed a “sexually violent predator.”

Bill Cosby has arrived to the courthouse for his sentencing

We just heard arguments about whether Cosby should be designated an SVP (sexually violent predator). As the judge noted, Cosby is already a "lifetime" registered" sex offender — this would be an additional classification.

Cosby's lawyer argues he doesn’t meet criteria for paraphilia, since according to DSM-V, he's “in remission” for not having sex with nonconsenting women for 5+ years. Dudley responds that “victims don’t always come forward,” and his behavior was “recurrent” for many years.

Cosby’s lawyer called psychologist Dr. Timothy Foley as a witness in the SVP decision. Foley said he evaluated Cosby, and there’s “extraordinarily low” risk of reoffense due to age, blindness, & physical impairments. “Over 70, sex offense recidivism becomes virtually negligible."

Asked by Attorney Stewart Ryan if Foley discussed in the evaluation any other sex offenses besides the one Cosby was convicted of, Foley said Cosby "decided on the advice of his attorney not to discuss” them. Foley didn't press him on it.

Cosby's lawyer Joseph P. Green is arguing Cosby cannot be designated an SVP because it requires proof that he's "likely to reoffend," and if he does in fact have paraphilia, he's "in remission" according to the DSM-V. "In a court of law the rules matter," said Green.

Ryan asks Foley if his evaluation was an SVP evaluation. It was not. "No expert has had the chance to evaluate his entire history," Ryan said, which is not necessarily legally improper but does not demonstrate a clear picture of whether Cosby should be deemed an SVP.

Andrea Constand spoke very briefly yesterday, but submitted a much longer victim impact statement. Here it is in full:

The seats reserved for the defense are quite empty today — I haven't seen any family members, and no Camille Cosby in sight.

In contrast, Cosby's accusers who have come to today's sentencing are so numerous they could barely fit on the back bench.

Bill Cosby has been registered for life as a "sexually violent predator."

Cosby spoke for the first time at his sentencing just a bit ago, when he was read the rules associated with his SVP designation, such as that he will be publicly registered as a sex offender. He asked for a few points to be clarified, but confirmed he understood all of them.

In his closing argument, Cosby lawyer Joseph P. Green again asked for leniency based on Cosby's current state of health.

“I don’t remember anyone ever sentencing a blind octogenarian to state prison," said Green.

DA Kevin Steele pointed out that at the time of the offense, there'd be no eligibility for house arrest.

"They’re asking for special treatment, they’re asking for a pass that should not be given," said Steele.

DA Steele also called out Cosby's lawyers for focusing so much on his age and blindness and not acknowledging the power and money Cosby has had for so many years.

"They’re asking you to forget the resources," said Steele.

"He was good at hiding this for a long time, he was good at suppressing this, so it's taken a long time to get there," said DA Steele. "But in the considerations he asked for, I would ask the court to weigh what was done to Andrea Constand and her family."

We are now on recess. When we reconvene at 1:30, Cosby will be sentenced.

Bill Cosby has been sentenced to 3-10 years in prison.

"Equal justice under the law" means Cosby should not be sentenced differently based on “who he is or who he was," the judge said.

The judge spoke in a lengthy manner about the impact of the Cosby's crime on Andrea Constand.

"You claimed her silence was consent. That is not the law," said the judge. "This is a court of law and I intend to sentence you under the law."

Cosby will spend 3-10 years in a state prison. The judge noted he has not sought out rehabilitation.

"No one is above the law and no one should be treated differently or disproportionately based on where they live or who they are" or based on "wealth, celebrity, philanthropy."

The judge responded to how some have said Cosby is too old to go to prison.

"And some might say you were old back then when you assaulted Andrea Constand," he said.

They're now arguing over Cosby's right to bail.

"I'm not going to treat him differently than anyone who comes through this courtroom," said the judge.

DA Steele said Cosby's team is asking for "special treatment" so he can enjoy the "comforts of his home."

We just took a recess so they can discuss whether Cosby should be handcuffed immediately or be granted bail pending appeal.

Earlier today, DA Steele argued Cosby's sentence should begin today.

Cosby's people — who today are just his legal team, two paid aides, two older male friends, and no family members — are standing around Cosby now. He has removed his tie and cufflinks and handed them to a friend.

His jacket is off now too and he's rolling up his sleeves.

Janice Dickinson is laughing loudly.

Judge O'Neil is denying Cosby bail pending appeal.

They have cleared the courtroom before handcuffing Cosby.

Cosby has been walked out of the courtroom in handcuffs, saying nothing.

I’m now at a press conference, put on by the Pennsylvania Office of Victim Advocate, where accusers of Cosby are set to speak

Spokesperson for Pennsylvania Office of Victim Advocate asks we call the people here today survivors, not accusers.

Gloria Allred says the “courthouse door has been slammed in the face” of many of these women due to the “arbitrary stature of limitations.”

Lise Lotte-Lublin, a survivor, said it “would’ve been really nice to give my witness statement in court.”

“I am free of Bill Cosby. I’ve moved on and I forgive him. He will never control my life. I have the strength to give him permission to ask me for my forgiveness for him.”

Chelan Lasha, another survivor, said she has “waited 32 years for this day hoping my nightmare will go away.”

“He did not care how old I was young and innocent, only 17 years old. Why should he receive mercy just because he’s 81?”

Linda Kirkpatrick said she was 24 when Cosby sexually assaulted her, and “my age did not matter to Bill Cosby.”

“Don talk about him being blind to me. I was blind from being unconscious.”

Stacey Pinkerton, who has never told her story to the public before today, said Cosby drugged and raped her in 1986.

“I kept moving from one address to another, across the Pacific Ocean, later the Atlantic, settling in Europe. No place was far enough away from Mr. Cosby.”

Sarita Butterfield said her rape was “a hatched plan on Christmas Eve at his home with his children and wife in the other room.”

“Today I feel a victory in my soul and in my heart about the sentencing. I’m sorry he showed no remorse in the courtroom.”

Janice Baker-Kinney is not here today, and Gloria Allred read her statement.

“My final thanks go to you, Mr. Cosby. Thank you for your enormous ego and arrogance, for without it we might not be here today...Your arrogance sparked a movement.”

Sunni Welles is 70, “the first recorded or reported victim or survivor of BC.” She does not say his name - she calls him BC - due to PTSD and bipolar disorder she attributes to her drugging and raping in 1965.

“You stripped me of my clothes and you laid me out unconscious on the bed and you fondled my breasts and body and using my hand you put your erect oenisbinside me, into this nonsexually active 17-year-old girl, this virgin girl’s vagina,” said Welles through heavy tears.

Welles said to this day she has been “unable to sustain any deep intimate relationships with men,” can rarely sleep for more than 4 hours without terrifying dreams, and sleeps with her ankles crossed “so they can’t be pried apart without my knowing.”

Welles said she cannot forgive Cosby and hopes he suffers.

“You have in essence destroyed so very much of my life...not only who I am today at 70 years old but who I was and could have been or would have become.”

“I hope that when you die you go to the hell of your making because this is precisely where you deserve to go for your sins and horrendous crimes against me and so many trusting, lovely women,” said Welles.

Welles thanks DA Kevin Steele and his team, Judge O’Neil, the jury, and Andrea Constand.

“She is a wonderful, loving, warm, intelligent, bright, brilliant woman and if she hadn’t been able to stand in courage and do what she did we wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Therese Serignese said that by “not having a sense of remorse,” Cosby showed “the damage you have caused me means nothing to you.”

“You stole my trust, you stole my body, and my belief that good things happen.”

Lili Bernard spoke, with Caroline Heldman by her side.

“I look upon Cosby as a masterful war criminal and a slaver,” said Bernard. She feared she would die of suffocation when Cosby put a pillow over her face, or of organ failure due to the drugging.

Bernard credited her children for giving her the strength to come forward. She said it’s “high time that Pennsylvania abolishes the statute of limitations” on rape cases. “I also urge us to pass the Equal Rights Act.”

Victoria Valentino said “the bottom line is this whole thing is so much bigger than Cosby.”

“This is about a woman’s worth. This is about rape culture in our society. This is about the fact that we as women are not equal under the constitution in 2018.”

Valentino said she and all the other survivors of Cosby “bonded together and created this uncanny, unique sisterhood.”

“We are the grandmothers who opened the floodgates” of the Me Too movement, she said.

And that’s a wrap. Thank you everyone who followed along on my coverage, but more importantly, thank you to all these brave, amazing women for speaking their truth which has led to justice being done today.