Will Bill Cosby Go to Jail? Live Updates on Sentencing Hearing

Comedian Bill Cosby arrived at Montgomery County Courthouse in Pennsylvania on Monday for the start of his two-day sentencing hearing. He was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault in April following trial testimony of Andrea Constand, a former basketball player at Temple University. More than 60 women have accused him of sexual assault over the decades.

Constand told the court that in 2004 Cosby had given her pills that left her "frozen." "I wasn't able to fight it in any way," she said in April. "I wanted it to stop." Before Cosby had molested her, Constand had considerd the 81-year-old entertainer a mentor.

There's a chance Cosby could go to prison. He could receive 10 years for each count, though that's unlikely. Another possibility is that all counts get rolled into a single term of 10 years. But prison isn't a certainty. Cosby could also receive probation or house arrest. Since he was released on $1 million bail, he's been wearing a GPS monitoring device. He can only leave his mansion with permission, to meet with his lawyer or to receive medical treatment.

Judge Steven T. O'Neill ruled that no live reports would come out of the courtroom.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Maria Vultaggio is a Brooklynite originally hailing from Long Island. She studied English at Stony Brook University and interned at the ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go