Missing Defense Witness Causes Drama at Bill Cosby Sentencing

Cosby is facing 30 years in prison over sexual assault conviction.

Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby, accompanied by comedians Lewis Dix and Joe Tory, arrives for day 4 of the sexual assault trial at Montgomery County Court House, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. (Bastiaan Slabbers/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images

The two-day sentencing hearing for Bill Cosby started today, and his lawyers made one more attempt to potentially keep Cosby from going behind bars this week.

The defense stated Monday morning that it wanted to hear from the doctor who compiled the original report that Pennsylvania’s sex offender board relied on in part for its estimation that Cosby should be designated as a sexually violent predator.

The doctor in question, Dr. Timothy Foley, is unavailable until Tuesday morning at the earliest. This stalled a ruling by Judge Steven O’Neill, and under state law, hits the pause button on the actual sentencing, according to Deadline. 

Judge O’Neill stated that this tactic was “clearly delaying this,” and recommended that defense attorney Joseph Green see if there is “any chance” they can get their witness in front of him as quickly as possible.

About 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault, but only one case went to trial to date. Cosby has been found guilty on three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault stemming from drugging and molesting Andrea Constand in his suburban Philadelphia home 14 years ago.

He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Earlier Monday morning, psychologist Dr. Kristin Dudley — a member of the state sex offender board — took to the stand to testify on why Cosby should be labeled as a violent predator. According to The Associated Press, Dudley says the assault fits a long  pattern of alleged predatory behavior by the disgraced TV star.

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