# Bill Cosby charged with felony sexual assault.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 31, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779 "2015-12-31T00:00:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Torontonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@Torontonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torontonian)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/21 "2015-12-31T06:10:30Z")
Andrea Constand is my Mom’s massage therapist ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/22 "2015-12-31T06:17:29Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Seems obvious to me this woman’s case is being used as a political football. District Attorney-elect Kevin Steele is using her just like Cosby did. He’s two faced. Talking about justice for a nearly 15 year old case and using it to further his career. > > I doubt any of the tabloid accusations against Cosby will be allowed into the trial. This case has to stand on its own merits. A prosecutor already looked at it years and years ago and determined it wasn’t strong enough to bring to trial. Despite the victim’s violation of a confidentiality agreement, the case is probably even weaker now. That leaked deposition shouldn’t be allowed in. It’s tainted evidence. A lot hinges on whether they allow the accusers from decades ago to enter testimony. Cosby is SOL if they do. > > I’m not defending Cosby. The number of accusers is impossible to ignore. A DA that hasn’t even been sworn into office and bringing charges days before the statute of limitations runs out, is what I object too. The circus is coming to town with him as the ringmaster. It sounds a great deal like you ARE defending him. You’re bitching that this is a political move…but then say that “the number of accusers is impossible to ignore.” So…in YOUR opinion… should he face a trial for his alleged crimes? Or should it be dismissed as politics and the old man be allowed to skate? ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/23 "2015-12-31T06:32:56Z")
> [@Torontonian](#): > > Andrea Constand is my Mom’s massage therapist Then please ask your mom to tell her she’s believed, and I (and others) having been defending her. Wish her luck with the trial. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/24 "2015-12-31T06:49:16Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Yup. This will be bigger than OJ’s trial. A dozen media trucks parked around the courthouse. A line of pundits and commentators on every news show reminding everybody why Cosby is guilty. He was convicted long ago in the tabloids and this will be more piling on. > > I don’t know if it’s possible for him to get a fair trial. I have no idea where they’ll find 12 unbiased jurors. The media coverage and the long line of accusers against Cosby has been unrelenting for a full year. > > We’ll have to wait and see how it works out. He’s already a fully discredited and ruined man. If he’s acquitted nothing will change. You don’t seem to be able to comprehend that this situation got to the point it is at now because for such a long time the public gave him the benefit of the doubt and refused to believe that such acts could ever have been done by such a wholesome, family-man doctor. So don’t worry. I’m sure there are still a large number of people who can’t distinguish between TV and reality, and who still believe that he actually is a wholesome, family-man doctor in real life. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/25 "2015-12-31T07:06:34Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I agree by strict legal terms, its not double jeopardy. > > Its double dipping. First the lady gets a juicy settlement and then Cosby still gets prosecuted (days before time runs out) a decade later by an ambitious politician wanting to further his career. This reeks of politics at its worst. Usually the criminal case goes first and then the civil suits go through but its not required that it be in that order. It’s not double dipping per se; the criminal complaint seeks justice for society as a whole and the civil damages justice and compensation for the victim. They (civil actions linked to criminal complaints) are pretty much the norm these days. And I agree about there being some politics involved - both as you mean them and in another fashion; the politics of the original DA (?) who didn’t follow through on the case gets most of my blame. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/26 "2015-12-31T07:09:19Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > It sounds a great deal like you ARE defending him. You’re bitching that this is a political move…but then say that “the number of accusers is impossible to ignore.” So…in YOUR opinion… should he face a trial for his alleged crimes? Or should it be dismissed as politics and the old man be allowed to skate? I do think Cosby should have been prosecuted back in the 1970’s. Many of the reported allegations come from that time. He was a star then but not a huge star. That didn’t happen until the 80’s and the Cosby show. The alleged crimes should have been reported to police and Cosby held accountable soon after they happened. It might have prevented other women from being victims years later. It doesn’t seem right to use these old unsubstantiated claims in this case. It’ll be interesting to see if any of these old claims are allowed into the trial. They make great tabloid material but it’s pretty hard to decide which people should be allowed to testify against Cosby. imho This case should stand on its own merits. Focus on what Cosby allegedly did to this one victim. But, that’s up to the judge to decide. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/27 "2015-12-31T07:12:56Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I do think Cosby should have been prosecuted back in the 1970’s. Many of the reported allegations come from that time. He was a star then but not a huge star. That didn’t happen until the 80’s and the Cosby show. The alleged crimes should have been reported to police and Cosby held accountable soon after they happened. It might have prevented other women from being victims years later. > > It doesn’t seem right to use these old unsubstantiated claims in this case. It’ll be interesting to see if any of these old claims are allowed into the trial. imho This case should stand on its own merits. Focus on what Cosby allegedly did to this one victim. But, that’s up to the judge to decide. So, you believe he should have been prosecuted back in the day, but but it should just be …forgotten? Ignored? Now that he is an old man, any rapes he committed should be \ gone? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/28 "2015-12-31T07:20:11Z")
Well, that’s why we have the statute of limitations. Requiring somebody to defend themselves against charges like this decades later is nearly impossible. Too much time has passed. Records lost. Memories have faded. There’s no physical evidence to sustain any of these old charges. There is this one case that can be pursued. We’ll have to see how it works out. Cosby isn’t skating by. His reputation is in ruins. A lifetime of good work and respect wiped out. This trial will cost him millions in attorney fees. Allegedly by his own criminal actions. He’s a pathetic shell of a man now. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/29 "2015-12-31T07:28:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > \ > He’s already a fully discredited and ruined man. If he’s acquitted nothing will change. > \ Well, it’s not like he would have ever had any expectations of making big money by acting or selling his memoirs or anything else. If he is acquitted, the only thing that will likely change is that he will likely have a million dollar legal bill. But DA’s are very stubborn. If he is acquitted, I would expect the DA would quickly follow up with another charge. That may be why he was only charged in one of many of these crimes. If they charged him with a whole lot and he was acquitted, he couldn’t be charged with any of those same cases again. But if they put him into prison for one of the charges, they will have some time to follow up when he is in prison and I would guess he will face charge after charge until he dies in prison. I feel no compassion for this man whatsoever. Whatever you want to call it, forcibly doing sexual shit to women has to be one of the most creepy and cowardly acts and deserves big prison time. Doing that shit to children (I’m thinking of the Catholic priests) is equally bad and they deserve to be locked up as well. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/30 "2015-12-31T07:35:28Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Well, that’s why we have the statute of limitations. Requiring somebody to defend themselves against charges like this decades later is nearly impossible. Too much time has passed. Records lost. Memories have faded. There’s no physical evidence to sustain any of these old charges. > > There is this one case that can be pursued. We’ll have to see how it works out. > > Cosby isn’t skating by. His reputation is in ruins. A lifetime of good work and respect wiped out. This trial will cost him millions in attorney fees. Allegedly by his own criminal actions. He’s a pathetic shell of a man now. Well, if it’s difficult for the defense, isn’t it equally difficult for the prosecution? I think it’s an outrage that sexual abuse against children has a statute of limitations. After all, it usually takes ten years or so before a child grows up to the point where they will be prepared to even talk about it. And there are some similarities with adults. If someone is forcibly raped, it can take a very long time before they are prepared to tell anyone, even to admit it to themselves. I don’t think there should be any statute of limitations for sexual abuse. As for your saying that “a lifetime of good work and respect wiped out” and “He’s a pathetic shell of a man now”, I don’t know about that at all. Do you have any evidence to say that he is now a pathetic shell of a man? Or is that just your assumption? I would think there is a chance that he is such an egomaniac that he may believe he is above the law and will be able to use his supposed charm and fame to get out of this. I don’t know that for sure. I’m just saying that if you don’t know for sure that he is a pathetic shell of a man, he could just as easily be an egomaniac who thinks he is above the law and feels he can scoff at the law. I’d love to know if you have any evidence to say these things and if so, can you tell us what they are? If they are just your opinions, that’s OK. But I’d just like to know which it is. No offense. But these alleged acts are just so egregious that I think it’s important to know the truth. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/31 "2015-12-31T07:38:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Well, that’s why we have the statute of limitations. Requiring somebody to defend themselves against charges like this decades later is nearly impossible. Too much time has passed. Records lost. Memories have faded. There’s no physical evidence to sustain any of these old charges. > > There is this one case that can be pursued. We’ll have to see how it works out. > > Cosby isn’t skating by. His reputation is in ruins. A lifetime of good work and respect wiped out. This trial will cost him millions in attorney fees. Allegedly by his own criminal actions. He’s a pathetic shell of a man now. So what? Most people have no reputation at all. It’s in no way an actual punishment. Trials aren’t supposed to be punishments, and it only costs him what he chooses to spend. No legal punishment still means he’s skating by. The point is that you are calling doing the right thing some sort of political theater. Sure, it’s not much, but at least it’s something. The statute of limitations isn’t up. You are defending him. You’re trying to argue that he’s been punished enough and that we shouldn’t keep trying. Despite the fact that he’s received no actual punishment at all. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/32 "2015-12-31T07:45:04Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I didn’t see a thread, so I thought I would start one: > > [Bill Cosby Criminally Charged in 2004 Sex-Assault Case, Freed on $1M Bail](http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/bill-cosby-scandal/bill-cosby-criminally-charged-2004-sex-assault-case-freed-1m-n487876) > > If you read the probable cause affidavit (linked in the article), it looks like ole Bill said some damning stuff in his deposition testimony. The term “ultra vires” is a constitutional legal term meaning that some state or federal government is “out of bounds” (so to speak) when trying to make laws in a particular sphere of life. In general, it’s something that only someone who has been trained in the law would know. Would you mind if I ask if you are a lawyer? Specifically, a Constitutional Lawyer? From Wikipedia: “Ultra vires” is a Latin phrase meaning “beyond the powers”. If an act requires legal authority and it is done with such authority, it is characterised in law as intra vires (“within the powers”). If it is done without such authority, it is ultra vires. Acts that are intra vires may equivalently be termed “valid” and those that are ultra vires “invalid”. > **[Ultra vires](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_vires)** > > Ultra vires ('beyond the powers') is a Latin phrase used in law to describe an act that requires legal authority but is done without it. Its opposite, an act done under proper authority, is intra vires ('within the powers'). Acts that are intra vires may equivalently be termed "valid", and those that are ultra vires termed "invalid". > Legal issues relating to ultra vires can arise in a variety of contexts: > In corporate law, ultra vires describes acts attempted by a corporation that are beyond ... ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/33 "2015-12-31T13:06:26Z")
With this trial, Cosby will officially become the funniest rapist of modern times. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/34 "2015-12-31T13:55:25Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I live in Montgomery County, a few minutes from the county courthouse. I imagine that things are going to get very busy around here. Now would be a good time for you to rent/buy a food truck. And maybe fix up those two spare bedrooms…put in a coffee pot & a nice TV. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/35 "2015-12-31T15:11:57Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > A lifetime of good work and respect wiped out. If (and again if) all of that “good work” and respect was used to cover sexual predatory behavior, then it needs to be knocked down. Fortunately, there will be both civil and criminal trials, so I hope that the truth will come out. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/36 "2015-12-31T15:32:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I do think Cosby should have been prosecuted back in the 1970’s. Many of the reported allegations come from that time. He was a star then but not a huge star. That didn’t happen until the 80’s and the Cosby show. The alleged crimes should have been reported to police and Cosby held accountable soon after they happened. It might have prevented other women from being victims years later. I think the media is taking a solid anti-Cosby line now because they ignored all the stories for decades. In addition to Cosby the media is culpable by enabling him to continue this behavior without fear of repercussions. I haven’t kept track of all the accusations, but this is one of the most recent, and possibly last one since the woman did go to the police, finally giving him reason to pause before raping again. Because of the statute of limitations this may be the last opportunity to have him face justice. I hope the prosecutors have a better case than they’ve indicated so far. But again, this is the fault of the media for not serving the public interests. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/37 "2015-12-31T16:14:18Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > If (and again if) all of that “good work” and respect was used to cover sexual predatory behavior, then it needs to be knocked down. Fortunately, there will be both civil and criminal trials, so I hope that the truth will come out. The civil case happened is 2005. That’s the one that was settled. They tried to do a criminal case but the DA of the time decided there wasn’t enough evidence. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/38 "2015-12-31T16:17:16Z")
I understand he slept with someone named “Russel”, that should be looked into. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/39 "2015-12-31T16:25:18Z")
Cosby’s attorney was on CBS this morning. She raised the same concerns about the politics behind this case that I did last night. I guess its good that his side of the story can finally come out at the trial. He’s been caught in a catch 22 all year. Denying specific allegations gets him sued for defaming his attacker. There’s already [defamation civil suits because he spoke out.](http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/20/us/bill-cosby-sued-by-dickinson/) [He’s filed numerous civil suits in return.](http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/14/us/bill-cosby-sues-accusers/) These civil cases will be in the courts for many years to come. Maybe even after Cosby has passed away. The Washington Post published a very good write up of the case so far. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/12/30/ap-report-bill-cosby-charged-in-sexual-assault-case/](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/12/30/ap-report-bill-cosby-charged-in-sexual-assault-case/) > **[‘Blind’ Bill Cosby is innocent, attorney Monique Pressley claims as she...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/12/31/blind-bill-cosby-is-innocent-attorney-monique-pressley-claims-as-she-blasts-public-and-media-for-fueling-disdain-for-fallen-funnyman-my-client-is-not-guilty/)** > > Bill Cosby still thinks he has supporters. “Friends and fans, Thank You,” the disgraced comic tweeted Thursday night. Cosby, charged with aggravated indecent assault for an alleged 2004… > [@](#): > > Pressley criticized the politicized nature of Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele bringing a charge against Cosby. Steele’s political opponent, Bruce Castor Jr., declined to bring charges against Cosby after Andrea Constand claimed in 2005 that Cosby drugged and assaulted her at his suburban Philadelphia home the year before. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779/40 "2015-12-31T16:47:20Z")
Cosby can’t win, can he? Even if he’s proved - not just found - innocent then he’ll still be out all those legal fees. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-cosby-charged-with-felony-sexual-assault/741779.md?page=3)