Bill Cosby’s Parole Petition Denied After Refusing Therapy For Sexual Offenders

The Pennsylvania parole board has denied Bill Cosby‘s parole petition, citing his refusal to attend therapy sessions for sexual offenders as the main reason. The May 11 decision was confirmed by Laura Treaster, a spokeswoman for the state parole board.

The 83-year-old was sentenced to three to ten years in a Philadelphia prison after he was found guilty for drugging and assaulting a former friend who worked at Temple University. Cosby has served almost three years and would’ve been eligible for parole on September 25, 2021.

Cosby, who was once known as “America’s Dad,” refused to participate in a therapy program for violent sexual predators. A letter from the parole board also indicated a “failure to develop a parole release plan” and a “negative recommendation by the Department of Corrections” as contributing factors in the board’s decision. Cosby’s prison record and the cause of the negative recommendation are not public knowledge.

Cosby’s legal team, friends and family were not expecting another outcome.

Andrew Wyatt, a spokesperson for the former actor, told CNN, “Mr. Cosby has vehemently proclaimed his innocence and continues to deny all allegations made against him, as being false, without the sheer evidence of any proof. Today, Mr. Cosby continues to remain hopeful that the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court will issue an opinion to vacate his conviction or warrant him a new trial.”

Of Cosby’s reaction upon hearing the news, Wyatt said, “He’s hopeful. He’s cool as a cucumber.”

In December, Cosby went before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to appeal his conviction, but the court has not ruled yet.