Appeals court denies Bill Cosby’s latest bid for release on bail

The Associated Press

6 years ago

Bill Cosby arrives for his sentencing hearing Sept. 25, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthou ... — Bill Cosby arrives for his sentencing hearing Sept. 25, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown Pa. A fee dispute between Cosby and a Los Angeles law firm shows the firm billed him about $1 million a month in the run-up to his first sex assault trial. The 81-year-old Cosby is challenging a California arbitration award that trims the $9 million bill from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan to below $7 million. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

HARRISBURG, Pa. — An appeals court has denied Bill Cosby’s latest effort to be released from prison on bail while he fights his sex-assault conviction.

Lawyers for the 81-year-old comedian had renewed their bail motion in a filing last week with Pennsylvania Superior Court. They say Cosby is likely to have his conviction overturned because of trial errors.

The defense complained that Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill hasn’t yet issued a post-trial opinion explaining key trial decisions the defense plans to challenge on appeal. They include O’Neill’s decision to let five other accusers testify.

The appeals court has turned down the bail motion in a one-line order issued Monday. Cosby is serving a three- to 10-year prison term for drugging and molesting a woman at his estate near Philadelphia in 2004.