Bill Cosby, the disgraced comedian who was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to 3 to 10 years in jail, will not be granted an early release despite the outbreak of coronavirus in the jail where he’s serving his sentence.
The 82-year-old actor has allegedly been denied an appeal for a temporary release as COVID-19 continues to infect more inmates at Pennsylvania’s SCI Phoenix.
Previously, Governor Tom Wolf has announced that up to 1,800 non-violent at-risk inmates across the state could be temporarily relieved in order to prevent the spreading of the virus inside correction facilities.
Due to Cosby’s age and poor health condition, including blindness, people had begun speculating that the sexual offender could be released early.
However, the rumors were quickly put to rest by the spokesperson for the Department of Corrections who claimed that “sex offenders are not eligible under the reprieve criteria.”
Striking back at the department’s decision was the 82-year-old’s representative, Andrew Wyatt, who said he’s “very concerned for Mr. Cosby’s health in prison during the coronavirus epidemic.”
“The reason: Mr. Cosby is elderly and blind — and always needs to be escorted around the prison by support service inmates, known as Certified Peer Specialists (CPI),” Wyatt expressed.
“Those inmates could fall victim to the coronavirus and easily spread the disease to Mr. Cosby as they wheel him around in a wheelchair.”
Amid the pandemic, dozens of inmates and staff at the prison have reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
As for Bill Cosby, he’s serving a three to ten-year sentence after being found guilty of aggravated sexual assault back in 2018 after drugging and raping a woman at his home.
The former TV star has also been accused of sexual assault by over 60 other women.
What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends and follow us on Facebook for more news and stories!
Replaced!