Bill Cosby Released From Prison After Court Overturns Conviction

After Pennsylvania's Supreme Court vacated the 2018 conviction against him, Bill Cosby has been released from behind bars.

By Jess Cohen Jun 30, 2021 5:52 PMTags
Watch: Bill Cosby Released From Prison After Court Overturns Conviction

UPDATE: Bill Cosby is speaking out after his release from a Pennsylvania prison.

On Wednesday, June 30, the Cosby Show actor tweeted, "I have never changed my stance nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence. Thank you to all my fans, supporters and friends who stood by me through this ordeal. Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law. #BillCosby."

For more details on his overturned conviction, read the story below.

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Bill Cosby has been released from prison following a decision from Pennsylvania's Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, June 30, the court vacated the 83-year-old comedian's 2018 assault conviction. He served more than two of his three-to-10 year sentence for three counts of aggravated indecent assault.

According to the court, the decision was made as a result of an agreement Cosby made with a previous prosecutor, which would've prevented him from being charged in the case. 

"When an unconditional charging decision is made publicly and with the intent to induce action and reliance by the defendant," the court said, "and when the defendant does so to his detriment (and in some instances upon the advice of counsel), denying the defendant the benefit of that decision is an affront to fundamental fairness, particularly when it results in a criminal prosecution that was foregone for more than a decade."

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The court then noted, "For these reasons, Cosby's convictions and judgment of sentence are vacated, and he is discharged."

After the decision was made, Cosby's spokesperson thanked the court. "This is what we have been fighting for and this is justice and justice for Black America. This is justice Mr. Cosby has been fighting for. They saw the light," Andrew Wyatt said. "He waived his fifth amendment right and settled out of court. He was given a deal and he had immunity. He should have never been charged. I want to thank all my attorneys."

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Cosby, who was accused of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004, was sentenced by a judge in September 2018. Judge Steven T. O'Neill, who delivered the three-to-10 year sentence, said at the time, "Nobody is above the law because of where they live, who they are, wealth, fame, celebrity or even philanthropy."

The judge also noted, "Any lesser sentence would take away from the seriousness of the crime." 

The actor has always maintained his contact with Constand was consensual, and has denied all other allegations of wrongdoing

Cosby was also ordered to pay $25,000 within the first 12 months in addition to the cost of prosecution.

He was granted an appeal in the case in June 2020.