Bill Cosby found guilty of sexual assault in retrial, following years of accusations

Bill Cosby has been found guilty of sexual assault, following years of accusations against the comedian.

Bill Cosby was convicted by a Pennsylvania judge Thursday for drugging and molesting a former Temple University basketball coach.

Cosby, 80, was found guilty on three felony accounts of aggravated assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constrand in 2004. Constrand, 44, was assaulted by Cosby while she was a woman’s basketball coach at Temple University. Cosby was a major donor and trustee for the university and claims the encounter with Constrand was consensual.

More than 50 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault. That includes former supermodel Janice Dickinson, Heidi Thomas, Janice Baker-Kinney, Lise-Lotte Lublin and Chelan Lasha. Last year, these five women testified against Cosby, their words used as evidence to prove Cosby’s predatory behavior.

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Cosby’s guilty verdict may offer hope and resolution to these women.

There was a loss of that hope last June. A jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on charges against Cosby, and the judge declared a mistrial. Cosby also reportedly paid Constrand $3.4 million in a civil lawsuit settlement in 2006.

During closing arguments following a two-week retrial, Cosby’s defense attorney Kathleen Bliss actually blamed the #MeToo movement.

“When you join a movement based primarily on emotion and anger, you don’t change a damned thing, which is why each single case must be examined on its merits. All of the evidence must be weighed,” Bliss said, according to ABC News.

As for Assistant District Attorney Kristen Feden, she reminded the jury that this case was “about trust, betrayal, and the inability to consent.”

Many grew up watching Cosby on The Cosby Show and fondly nicknamed him “America’s Dad.” He may now live the rest of his life in prison following this verdict. Cosby was reportedly smiling during closing arguments. That’s turned now to him lashing out in the courtroom, according to The Associated Press.

Cosby could “get up to 10 years in prison on each of the three counts of aggravated indecent assault,” as reported by The Associated Press.

He may receive less than that per state sentencing guidelines. However, at the age of 80, Cosby will likely be behind bars for the rest of his life.