Disgraced comedian Bill Cosby has met the requirements to be classified as a “sexually violent predator” by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board. This opinion was handed down by the agency early Tuesday morning.
In response to the ruling, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele immediately submitted a court motion requesting the judge overseeing Cosby’s sentencing to set a final determination hearing regarding Cosby’s potential sexually violent predator status.
Steele’s filing takes the form of a praecipe, a little-known type of legal document which is typically submitted in order to request the issuance of another legal document or order. In this case, Steele is requesting a formalized determination that the previous classification will stand. The praecipe notes, in full:
Upon receiving the Sexual Offenders Assessment from the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board opining the defendant to be a Sexually Violent Predator, the Commonwealth, pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 9799.24., respectfully requests The Court schedule a hearing to determine whether the Defendant is a Sexually Violent Predator.
The 80-year-old former Jell-O pitchman was convicted on April 26 of this year of sexual assault after years of successfully dodging similar accusations. Specifically, a jury of seven men and five women found Cosby guilty on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. He faces up to 30 years in prison.
It’s not immediately clear what impact, if any, the final designation of Sexually Violent Predator status would have on Cosby’s sentencing. According to Pennsylvania’s official FAQ on the status issue:
If an individual is classified by the Court as a Sexually Violent Predator, the individual is automatically subject to:
- Lifetime registration with the Pennsylvania State Police with quarterly of his registration information;
- Lifetime, at least monthly, mandatory sex offender counseling with a treatment provider approved by the SOAB; and
- Active community notification, whereby local law enforcement authorities notify neighbors, county children and youth agencies, local day care centers, school districts and institutions of higher education of the Sexually Violent Predator’s name, residential address and offense; and also provide a photograph of the offender.
[Image via Mark Makela/Getty Images]
