Despite numerous COVID-19 cases within the prison where he is incarcerated, disgraced comedian, Bill Cosby, has been denied an early release.
Serving a three to ten-year sentence at SCI Phoenix in Skippack, Pennsylvania for aggravated sexual assault, the 82-year-old’s plea for release due to the pandemic has been rejected.
Other at-risk inmates have been temporarily relieved or sent to home confinement in response to the global crisis, leading to speculation that Cosby might also be freed.
However, the state’s Department of Corrections has explicitly stated that the actor is not eligible for early release under the given criteria, citing his status as a sex offender.
Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s representative, has expressed concerns about the actor’s health and safety in the midst of the pandemic, emphasizing the potential risk due to his old age and poor health.
Despite Wyatt’s statements, the Department of Corrections remains firm in its decision, asserting that sex offenders are ineligible for the reprieve.
Within the prison, twenty-one inmates and thirteen staff members have tested positive for Coronavirus, with one inmate already succumbing to the virus. In contrast, nine non-violent offenders from the same facility have been released after testing negative for COVID-19.
Wyatt continues to advocate for Cosby’s release, citing the precarious nature of the situation, especially concerning the actor’s vulnerability as an elderly and visually impaired individual who relies on support service inmates for daily activities.
Convicted in 2018 for aggravated indecent assault, Cosby has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct from over sixty women.