Why Bill Cosby may not spend any time in prison

[DonViejo]

By Eric Levenson, CNN

Updated 1:10 AM ET, Sat April 28, 2018

(CNN)Based on his conviction this week on three assault charges, comedian and TV star Bill Cosby could be sentenced to 30 years in prison.

But legal experts said the 80-year-old certainly will spend less time than that behind bars, and there's a very real possibility that he may not ever be incarcerated.

Why? Well, it's mostly to do with his defense team's plan to appeal the guilty verdict -- likely on the grounds that the decision to allow five other accusers to testify in the trial unfairly prejudiced the jury.

Cosby's attorney, Tom Mesereau, will probably ask the court that his client be given home confinement during the appeal, which could take months or even years, CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson said.

"I think he'll ask the court and do whatever he needs to, to have his client remain out at liberty until these issues are decided, whether it was appropriate to allow all those accusers to testify, and how prejudicial and unfair would that be," Jackson said.

more
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/27/us/bill-cosby-appeal-prison-time/index.html

[Botany]

1. Cosby's appeal can be filed as he is in prison

I expect him to be in jail in under 1 month. Calling the D.A. an asshole
was not a smart move.

[hlthe2b]

2. I do think he will serve a bare minimum of time, but I do think he will eventually serve...

I am not saying that is right or wrong, just realistic. Those women deserve justice, but that will be weighed against no prior record and frankly, the fact that no prison really wants a 80 year old with a myriad of health problems and whose celebrity will bring with it extra security complications. While I do not consider him to be a "nonviolent" offender, I suspect the criminal justice system will technically view him as such. That would likely mean there will be all possible efforts by prosecutors to require some, but minimal time served.

[Botany]

3. He will die in jail or before he goes in.

He was found guilty of 3 serious charges.

[hlthe2b]

4. i've heard a couple of prominent former prosecutors familiar with sentencing guidelines in PA say

probably 22 months (Danny Cavallos) . While technically the law can call for much more, there are sufficient other facts to suggest that time frame rather than decades....

[Guilded Lilly]

5. I also have my totally non-legal opinion that he won't serve much time for his crimes....

His reputation and life are rightfully ruined by his verdict. He is and has been walking scum for decades. Worse, he has projected himself as a family man, a role model to all. The deception was purposeful and arrogant.
I want him to rot behind bars.

But mostly I just want him to rot.

[cloudbase]

6. He can go visit Ken Lay. n/t

[MaryMagdaline]

7. I don't know how the judge can give him bail on appeal

[misanthrope]

8. In simple terms: because he's wealthy and powerful

We've seen America's "justice" system at work.

[IluvPitties]

9. Dude's rich. That's why.

I bet John Doe's ass would be in prison right now.