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Photo: Mark Makela, Getty Images
Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand (C) reacts after the guilty on all counts verdict was delivered in the sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 26, 2018 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Cosby was found guilty on all accounts after a former Temple University employee alleges that the entertainer drugged and molested her in 2004 at his home in suburban Philadelphia. More than 40 women have accused the 80 year old entertainer of sexual assault.
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Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand (C) reacts after the guilty on all counts verdict was delivered in the sexual assault retrial at the Montgomery County Courthouse on April 26, 2018 in Norristown,
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Photo: Mark Makela, Getty Images
Bill Cosby walks out of the Montgomery County Courthouse on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Norristown, Pa. after learning a jury found him guilty of sexual assault. (David Swanson/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
Bill Cosby walks out of the Montgomery County Courthouse on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Norristown, Pa. after learning a jury found him guilty of sexual assault. (David Swanson/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)
Photo: David Swanson, TNS
Attorney Gloria Allred leaves the court after actor and comedian Bill Cosby was found guilty in the retrial of his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania on April 26, 2018. Disgraced television icon Bill Cosby was convicted Thursday of sexual assault by a US jury -- losing a years-long legal battle that was made tougher at retrial as the first celebrity trial of the #MeToo era. / AFP PHOTO / Dominick ReuterDOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images
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Attorney Gloria Allred leaves the court after actor and comedian Bill Cosby was found guilty in the retrial of his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania on April
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Photo: DOMINICK REUTER, AFP/Getty Images
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby (C) comes out of the Courthouse after the verdict in the retrial of his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania on April 26, 2018. Disgraced television icon Bill Cosby was convicted Thursday of sexual assault by a US jury — losing a years-long legal battle that was made tougher at retrial as the first celebrity trial of the #MeToo era.
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Actor and comedian Bill Cosby (C) comes out of the Courthouse after the verdict in the retrial of his sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania on April 26, 2018.
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Photo: DOMINICK REUTER, AFP/Getty Images
Andrea Constand (L), the main accuser in the Bill Cosby sexual assault retrial, looks on as the prosecutors speak to reporters after the retrial of Cosby's sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania on April 26, 2018. Disgraced television icon Bill Cosby was convicted Thursday of sexual assault by a US jury -- losing a years-long legal battle that was made tougher at retrial as the first celebrity trial of the #MeToo era. / AFP PHOTO / Dominick ReuterDOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images
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Andrea Constand (L), the main accuser in the Bill Cosby sexual assault retrial, looks on as the prosecutors speak to reporters after the retrial of Cosby's sexual assault case at the Montgomery County
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Photo: DOMINICK REUTER, AFP/Getty Images
Andrea Constand exits the courtroom during a break in Bill Cosy's retrial on sexual assault charges at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. The jury on Thursday voted to convict Cosby of sexually assaulting Constand, a former Temple University staff member who had looked up to him as a mentor. (Pool via The New York Times)
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Andrea Constand exits the courtroom during a break in Bill Cosy's retrial on sexual assault charges at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. The jury on Thursday voted
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Photo: POOL, NYT
Bill Cosby gestures as he leaves the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., after being convicted of drugging and molesting a woman, Thursday, April 26, 2018.
Bill Cosby gestures as he leaves the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., after being convicted of drugging and molesting a woman, Thursday, April 26, 2018.
Photo: Matt Slocum, AP
FILE - In this July 22, 2017 file photo, Hannibal Buress performs at the FYF Fest in Los Angeles. The path to comedian Bill Cosby’s conviction of drugging and molesting a woman in a Pennsylvania courtroom Thursday, April 26, arguably started 3 ½ years earlier in a comedy club across town in Philadelphia, when Buress mocked Cosby for his smug preachiness, then called him a rapist during his standup act. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
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FILE - In this July 22, 2017 file photo, Hannibal Buress performs at the FYF Fest in Los Angeles. The path to comedian Bill Cosby’s conviction of drugging and molesting a woman in a Pennsylvania courtroom
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Photo: Willy Sanjuan, Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP
Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand smiles as she listens during a news conference after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pa.
Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand smiles as she listens during a news conference after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pa.
Photo: Matt Slocum, AP
Accuser Lili Bernard, foreground, is consoled by grief counselor Caroline Heldman left, as accuser Victoria Valentino, right, is comforted outside the courtroom after Bill Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. After decades of whispers, lawsuits, investigations and close calls - and a multitude of women who lost hope anyone would ever believe their word against that of America's Dad - Cosby could be headed to prison at age 80 for the remainder of his life. (Mark Makela/Pool Photo via AP, Pool)
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Accuser Lili Bernard, foreground, is consoled by grief counselor Caroline Heldman left, as accuser Victoria Valentino, right, is comforted outside the courtroom after Bill Cosby was found guilty in his sexual
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Photo: Mark Makela, AP
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby departs the courthouse after he was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa.
Actor and comedian Bill Cosby departs the courthouse after he was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa.
Photo: Matt Slocum, AP
Bill Cosby accusers Lili Bernard, left, and Victoria Valentino, right, reach out to embrace outside the courtroom after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. A jury convicted the "Cosby Show" star of three counts of aggravated indecent assault on Thursday. The guilty verdict came less than a year after another jury deadlocked on the charges. (Mark Makela/Pool Photo via AP)
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Bill Cosby accusers Lili Bernard, left, and Victoria Valentino, right, reach out to embrace outside the courtroom after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the
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Photo: Mark Makela, AP
Bill Cosby Accuser Lili Bernard, left, and Victoria Valentino, right, embrace outside the courtroom after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. A jury convicted the "Cosby Show" star of three counts of aggravated indecent assault on Thursday. The guilty verdict came less than a year after another jury deadlocked on the charges. (Mark Makela/Pool Photo via AP)
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Bill Cosby Accuser Lili Bernard, left, and Victoria Valentino, right, embrace outside the courtroom after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery
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Photo: Mark Makela, AP
Bill Cosby's attorney Kathleen Bliss, left, and Tom Mesereau, right, leave the courthouse after their client was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. A jury convicted the "Cosby Show" star of three counts of aggravated indecent assault on Thursday. The guilty verdict came less than a year after another jury deadlocked on the charges.
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Bill Cosby's attorney Kathleen Bliss, left, and Tom Mesereau, right, leave the courthouse after their client was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery County
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Photo: Corey Perrine, AP
Bill Cosby's attorney Kathleen Bliss, left, and Tom Mesereau, right, walk through the courthouse after their client was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. A jury convicted the "Cosby Show" star of three counts of aggravated indecent assault on Thursday. The guilty verdict came less than a year after another jury deadlocked on the charges. (Mark Makela/Pool Photo via AP)
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Bill Cosby's attorney Kathleen Bliss, left, and Tom Mesereau, right, walk through the courthouse after their client was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April, 26, 2018, at the Montgomery
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Photo: Mark Makela, AP
Accuser Victoria Valentino prepares to speak to the media after Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Valentino is a former Playboy playmate who accused Cosby of slipping her pills and raping her in the late 1960s.
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Accuser Victoria Valentino prepares to speak to the media after Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Valentino is a
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Photo: Corey Perrine, AP
District Attorney Kevin Steele, right, speaks at a news conference after Bill Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault trial, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Cosby stared straight ahead as the verdict was read but moments later lashed out loudly at Steele after the prosecutor demanded Cosby be sent immediately to jail. Steele told the judge Cosby has an airplane and might flee.
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District Attorney Kevin Steele, right, speaks at a news conference after Bill Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault trial, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pa. Cosby stared straight ahead as the
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Photo: Matt Slocum, AP
FILE - In this May 22, 1966 file photo, actor and comedian Bill Cosby poses with his award for best actor in a TV series for his role in "I Spy," at the Emmy Awards in New York. On Thursday, April 26, 2018, Cosby was convicted of drugging and molesting a woman in the first big celebrity trial of the #MeToo era, completing the spectacular late-life downfall of a comedian who broke racial barriers in Hollywood on his way to TV superstardom as America's Dad.
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FILE - In this May 22, 1966 file photo, actor and comedian Bill Cosby poses with his award for best actor in a TV series for his role in "I Spy," at the Emmy Awards in New York. On Thursday, April 26, 2018,
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Photo: AP
Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand, left, embraces prosecutor Kristen Feden during a news conference after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pa.
Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand, left, embraces prosecutor Kristen Feden during a news conference after Cosby was found guilty in his sexual assault retrial, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Norristown, Pa.
Photo: Matt Slocum, AP
FILE – In this August 1972 file photo, Bill Cosby rides a tricycle while wearing a T-shirt depicting the cartoon character Fat Albert and the character's "Hey Hey Hey" catchphrase, as he promotes the premiere of the Saturday morning children's show "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids." On Thursday, April 26, 2018, Cosby was convicted of drugging and molesting a woman in the first big celebrity trial of the #MeToo era, completing the spectacular late-life downfall of a comedian who broke racial barriers in Hollywood on his way to TV superstardom as America's Dad.
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FILE – In this August 1972 file photo, Bill Cosby rides a tricycle while wearing a T-shirt depicting the cartoon character Fat Albert and the character's "Hey Hey Hey" catchphrase, as he promotes the premiere
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Photo: Uncredited, AP
'The real Bill Cosby': Comedian convicted of sexual assault
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — After decades of whispers, lawsuits, investigations and close calls — and a multitude of women who lost hope anyone would ever believe their word against that of America's Dad — Bill Cosby could be headed to prison at age 80 for the remainder of his life.
The comedian was convicted Thursday of drugging and molesting Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia mansion 14 years ago in a verdict women's advocates called a turning point in the #MeToo movement that proved what Cosby's accusers had been saying all along — his nice-guy image was a sham.
Lili Bernard, who said Cosby sexually assaulted her before giving her a one-time role on "The Cosby Show" in 1992, became so emotional in the courtroom gallery that she accidentally banged her forehead on the bench in front of her.
"I'm overcome with gratitude," Bernard, sobbing, said outside the courthouse. "I feel like I have to pinch myself. Am I awake? It's a miracle."
The verdict, in the first big celebrity trial of the #MeToo era, sealed the spectacular late-in-life downfall of an entertainer who broke racial barriers in Hollywood on his way to TV superstardom as sweater-wearing, wisdom-dispensing Dr. Cliff Huxtable.
It was the only criminal case to arise from a barrage of allegations from more than 60 women who said Cosby drugged and molested them over five decades but whose stories were often disbelieved or ignored years before #MeToo put a spotlight on sexual misconduct by powerful men.
The jury of seven men and five women deliberated 14 hours over two days before convicting Cosby of violating Constand in 2004.
Constand, a 45-year-old Temple University women's basketball administrator, said Cosby knocked her out with three blue pills he called "your friends" and then penetrated her with his fingers as she lay immobilized, unable to resist or say no. Cosby claimed the encounter was consensual, saying he gave her the cold and allergy medicine Benadryl to relax.
Cosby stared straight ahead as the verdict was read but moments later lashed out loudly at District Attorney Kevin Steele after the prosecutor demanded Cosby be sent immediately to jail. Steele told the judge Cosby has an airplane and might flee.
Cosby angrily denied he has a plane and called Steele an "a--hole," shouting, "I'm sick of him!"
Judge Steven O'Neill decided Cosby can remain free on $1 million bail while he awaits sentencing but restricted him to Montgomery County, where his home is. No sentencing date was set.
Cosby waved to the crowd outside the courthouse, got into an SUV and left without saying anything. His lawyer Tom Mesereau declared "the fight is not over" and said he will appeal.
Shrieks erupted in the courtroom when the verdict was announced, and some of Cosby's accusers whimpered and cried. Constand remained stoic, then hugged her lawyer and members of the prosecution team.
The verdict came after a two-week retrial in which prosecutors had more courtroom weapons at their disposal than they did the first time: They put on the stand five other women who testified that Cosby, married for 54 years, drugged and violated them, too.
At Cosby's first trial, which ended in a deadlocked jury less than a year ago, only one additional accuser was allowed to testify.
"Justice has been done!" celebrity attorney Gloria Allred, who represented some of Cosby's accusers, said on the courthouse steps. "We are so happy that finally we can say women are believed."
The district attorney became teary-eyed as he commended Constand for what he said was courage in coming forward. As Constand stood silently behind him, Steele apologized to her for a previous DA's decision in 2005 not to charge Cosby.
Cosby "was a man who had evaded this moment for far too long," Steele said. "He used his celebrity, he used his wealth, he used his network of supporters to help him conceal his crimes."
He added: "Now, we really know today who was really behind that act, who the real Bill Cosby was."
Cosby was convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault, each carrying a standard sentence of five to 10 years in prison. The counts are likely to be merged for sentencing purposes, but given Cosby's age even a modest term could mean he will die behind bars.
The fallout from the verdict was immediate: Bounce, a TV network that caters to black viewers, announced it would drop reruns of "The Cosby Show." And Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, revoked an honorary degree awarded in 2007.
Since Cosby's first trial, the #MeToo movement has taken down powerful men in rapid succession, among them Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Kevin Spacey and Sen. Al Franken. During closing arguments, Cosby's lawyers slammed #MeToo, calling Cosby its victim and likening it to a witch hunt or a lynching.
Cosby's new defense team, led by Mesereau, the celebrity attorney who won an acquittal for Michael Jackson on child-molestation charges, launched a ferocious attack on Constand during the trial, calling her a "con artist" and "pathological liar" who framed Cosby to get rich.
The star witness for the defense was Marguerite Jackson, a Temple employee who testified that Constand once spoke of setting up a prominent person and suing.
Constand sued Cosby after prosecutors initially declined to file charges, settling with him for nearly $3.4 million more than a decade ago.
Cosby's defense team derided the other accusers as home-wreckers and suggested they made up their stories in a bid for money and fame.
But Cosby had long ago confirmed some of the rumors about drugs and extramarital sex. In a deposition he gave more than a decade ago as part of Constand's lawsuit, he acknowledged he had obtained quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with.
The entertainer broke racial barriers as the first black actor to star in a network show, "I Spy," in the 1960s. He created the top-ranked "Cosby Show" two decades later. He also found success with his "Fat Albert" animated TV show and appeared in commercials for Jello-O pudding.
Later in his career, he attracted controversy for lecturing about social dysfunction in poor black neighborhoods, railing against young people stealing things and wearing baggy pants.
Comedian Hannibal Buress was credited with helping to start the avalanche of allegations against Cosby when he called the TV star a rapist on a stand-up comedy stage in 2014 and a fan's cellphone video of the moment went viral.
Not long after, a federal judge, acting on a request from The Associated Press, unsealed portions of Cosby's deposition about quaaludes and sexual conquests, citing the disconnect between Cosby's private behavior and his reputation as a public moralist.
The deposition release in 2015 prompted authorities to reopen the criminal investigation, and they eventually brought charges.
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission. Constand has done so.
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Follow Mike Sisak at https://twitter.com/mikesisak
Follow Claudia Lauer at https://twitter.com/ClaudiaLauer
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For more coverage visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/CosbyonTria