NORRISTOWN, Pa. _ Bill Cosby likely has a personality disorder that makes him inclined to engage in sex with non-consenting women, a psychologist testified Monday, as proceedings opened that are expected to conclude with the 81-year-old entertainer's sentencing on sex assault charges.
For individuals with such a disorder, "behavior is demonstrated to be beyond their control _ they are inclined, urged, to act upon this," said Kristen F. Dudley, a psychologist and member of the Pennsylvania Sex Offender Assessment Board. She classified the behavior as predatory, and said he was likely to reoffend.
Dudley was called to the stand in Norristown during a hearing to determine whether Cosby will be classified as a sexually violent predator. After that hearing, Judge Steven T. O'Neill will open a sentencing hearing that could span two days.
Several Cosby accusers showed up for the hearing, greeting each other with hugs. Andrea Constand, the former Temple University employee whom he was convicted of drugging and assaulting, sat in court with her sister and parents. Three women who testified at Cosby's trial this year _ Chelan Lasha, Lise Lotte Lublin and Janice Dickinson _ sat behind Constand.
Cosby, wearing a dark suit, sat quietly between his lawyers and leaned forward in his seat, appearing to pay close attention to the proceedings. His wife, Camille, who has voiced support for her husband since his conviction, did not attend.
Cosby faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for each of his three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Pennsylvania law gives great latitude to judges to determine a sentence, but state guidelines suggest 22 months to three years in prison. State sentencing data shows that two years ago, about 80 percent of defendants who, like Cosby, were convicted of aggravated indecent assault but had no prior record received a state prison sentence.
Dudley told the judge that Cosby appears to have an "other-specified paraphilic disorder," which she defined as pursuing non-consenting women.
She said Cosby declined to let her interview him, so she instead reviewed "boxes of documents," including all police reports in the case and the transcripts of both of Cosby's trials, to complete her evaluation.
She also testified that based on the testimony of Constand and six other women who testified during his two trials that Cosby is likely to reoffend.
"Mr. Cosby repeatedly engaged in grooming and sexual offending behavior with young adult females," Dudley said.
Dudley said she has conducted 70 assessments for the board and has recommended a designation of sexually violent predator in 20 percent of those cases.
Cosby's lawyers had argued that the sexually violent predator hearing should not be held because the state law regarding sex offender registration is unconstitutional.
His lawyers are also expected to argue this week that Cosby should not be sent to prison due to his age and medical conditions _ they say he is legally blind. He has been on house arrest at his home in Cheltenham since a jury found him guilty in April.
But O'Neill proceeded with the hearing. If he rules that Cosby is a sexually violent predator, the entertainer will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and attend monthly counseling.
