Bill Cosby sentencing: First day of hearing draws to a close with comedian facing up to 30 years jail time

Cosby was being convicted in April of violating Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home

Bill Cosby arrives at court for sentencing

Day one of Bill Cosby's sentencing hearing that will determine how the 81-year-old comedian will be punished for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman more than 14 years ago has been adjourned. A judge is expected to sentence Cosby in the Philadelphia area courthouse on Tuesday.

Cosby was the first celebrity to go to trial in the #MeToo era and could be the first to go to prison, after being convicted in April of violating Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.

Cosby walked into the courthouse on the arm of his longtime spokesman as protesters shouted at him.

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Court adjourned in the late afternoon on the first day of the two-day hearing. Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill has reportedly stated in court that prosecutors and defence lawyers have agreed to merge the charges against Cosby. The state guidelines for someone like Cosby, with no prior convictions, call for about one to four years behind bars.

Whatever the sentence, Cosby is likely to be deemed a sexually violent predator and will have to undergo monthly counselling the rest of his life, in prison or out. Neighbours and schools will be warned he is living nearby.

Associated Press

[24 September 2018 15:30 · Steve Anderson]

The woman at the centre of the Cosby trial, Andrea Constand, tweeted this before heading into court:

[24 September 2018 15:31 · Steve Anderson]

Ms Constand will reportedly give a statement to the court at some point either on Monday or Tuesday.

[24 September 2018 15:59 · Steve Anderson]

The judge overseeing Bill Cosby's sentencing has called a break this morning to decide if the the Pennsylvania Sexually Violent Predator assessment and subsequent sex offender registration is constitutional.

Joseph Green, representing Cosby, briefly argued the law was unconstitutional, and could not be constitutionally applied to Cosby because it was punitive - and punishment without due process.

A Commonwealth Attorney said the Cosby was trying "to escape" the registration required for sexual predators.

[24 September 2018 16:22 · Steve Anderson]

The judge ruled that the Sexually Violent Predator Assessment, and the current Pennsylvania  law dealing with sex offender registrations was constitutional.

Judge O'Neill cited several cases that he relied on for his decision, as well as state law.

[24 September 2018 16:58 · Kristin Hugo]

Kristen F. Dudley, psychologist and member of the Pennsylvania Sex Offenders Assessment Board has deemed Bill Cosby a "sexually violent predator".

Ms Dudley said Cosby chose not to be assessed but determined he has an uncontrollable urge to violate young women and would likely reoffend if given the chance, based on trial transcripts, police reports and the sexual assault allegations against him.  

[24 September 2018 17:19 · Kristin Hugo]

CNN report: 

"The behaviours are beyond their controls, so they are urged to act on it," said psychologist Kristen Dudley who testified on Monday. "He is likely to reoffend"

[24 September 2018 17:35 · Kristin Hugo]

None of Bill Cosby's other accusers who testified at his retrial are slated to take the stand at his sentencing hearing, AP reports.

[24 September 2018 17:50 · Kristin Hugo]

Protesters gather outside Montgomery County Court in Pennsylvania 

[24 September 2018 18:10 · Kristin Hugo]

Two of Bill Cosby's accusers, Lise-Lotte Lubin and Chelan Lasha said earlier this week they hope Cosby will serve time in prison. 

"I really think it's important that he spend some time behind bars," said Ms Lubin. 

[24 September 2018 18:29 · Steve Anderson]

Monday's sentencing comes as Cosby's defense team, now led by attorney Joseph P. Green Jr., has accused Judge O'Neill of bias and asked him to remove himself from the case -- and to reverse an order that allowed the trial to happen in the first place.

At issue was a "nasty" personal conflict involving a prior district attorney, Bruce Castor, Cosby's team argued. Judge O'Neil denied the motion last week, calling it untimely and "wholly without merit," court records show.