Bill Cosby, a ‘Sexually Violent Predator,’ Is Headed to Prison

Bill Cosby will be spending three to 10 years behind bars in a Philadelphia state prison.

“I’m not permitted to treat him any differently based on who he is or who he was,” said the judge presiding over Cosby’s sentencing hearings on Tuesday, when handing down the prison term.

Cosby was found guilty this year of three counts of indecent sexual assault.

Multiple women have publicly accused the disgraced comedian of sexual misconduct, including Andrea Constand. The former Temple University employee alleged that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her inside his Philadelphia home in 2004.

Constand wrote a victim impact statement for the court, which detailed the effects of her experience.

She said after the incident with Cosby, she could not socialize, eat, sleep, or even talk. Constand was 30 at the time of the assault.

The judge in Cosby’s case has also ruled that the former comedian be labeled a “sexually violent predator.” The 81-year-old will be added to the national sex-offender registry. He will be required to report to authorities quarterly every year, and to attend counseling sessions once a month.

Cosby has maintained his innocence. He had a bit of luck last year when his first trial ended in a mistrial. State prosecutors, however, did not take defeat well and kept pursuing the case. They asked for a five- to 10-year sentence for Cosby.

Cosby was once known as a family-friendly comedian. He kept his act clean and often included humor about kids.

He was previously best known for creating the hit television shows “The Cosby Show” and “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.”

“The Cosby Show” ran from 1984 to 1992 and aired nearly 200 episodes. For millions of people across the country, it was a fixture of their Thursday evenings for years.

“Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” ran from 1972 to 1985. It aired nearly 80 episodes and a handful of specials. It also became a live-action movie in 2004. The film starred “Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson and included a cameo from a then still-beloved Cosby.

Cosby was once seen as a comedic force who could be enjoyed by families together. Publicly, he pushed positive messages and railed against vulgar comedy and music.

It seems clear now that his public persona and work were merely a cover for the monster he was behind closed doors.

He has cast a shadow over all of his previous work and leaves behind a legacy of heartache and evildoing.

For more on Cosby’s trial, check out the video below: