Bill Cosby sentencing: Judge hands comedian 3 to 10 years prison time after ruling him 'sexually violent predator'
Actor's legal team argued in court in Pennsylvania he is too frail to face prison time
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Your support makes all the difference.Bill Cosby has been sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004.
Judge Steven O'Neill has ruled that Cosby is a "sexually violent predator" which means the once-beloved TV comedian is being placed on the sex offender’s registry sent to neighbours, schools and victims. The distinction also requires Cosby to undergo a lifetime of counselling and to report quarterly to authorities.
In April, the 81-year-old actor was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault against ex-basketball player Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia mansion in 2004.
On Monday, prosecutors asked a judge to give the comedian five to 10 years behind bars, while his lawyers asked for house arrest, saying the legally-blind actor was too frail to face jail.
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Hello and welcome to our coverage of day two of the sentencing hearing for Bill Cosby.
Here is a link to our report of the first day of Bill Cosby's sentencing hearing below:
Bill Cosby has arrived to the Montgomery County Courthouse this Tuesday morning.
Judge Steven O'Neill is expected to sentence him today.
Bill Cosby's attorney has argued that Cosby is too old and frail to serve time in prison.
Andrew Wyatt, Bill Cosby's spokesman, says Cosby does not plan to make a statement in court prior to his sentencing on Tuesday, AP reports.
Andrea Constand, the woman Cosby was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting in 2004, has arrived to the Pennsylvania courthouse on Tuesday.
In April, Bill Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004 at his Pennsylvania home.
The defence team is expected to call a psychologist to testify about whether Bill Cosby should be labelled a "sexually violent predator" on Tuesday.
On Monday, Kristen Dudley, a psychologist and member of the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, classified Cosby as a sexually violent predator.
The distinction would mean Cosby would be put on the sex offender's registry which would require him to undergo counselling for life.
On Monday prosecutors and defence attorneys agreed to merge the three counts of Bill Cosby's conviction into one for sentencing purposes.
This means he will be given one sentence, instead of three, and will serve his time together.
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