Disgraced Bill Cosby, 81, jokes with fans as he arrives for sentencing over sex assaults… as spokesman insists he is ‘still America’s dad’
DISGRACED Bill Cosby's spokesman insisted he will always be "America's Dad" at the start of the fallen star's sentencing hearing over historic sex charges.
The 81-year-old actor faces up to 30 years in prison after being convicted of three counts of sexual assault which took place in 2004.
His spokesman Andrew Wyatt opened up to reporters as he walked into a Philadelphia courthouse today for the start of the two-day hearing.
Cosby - seen seemingly joking with fans outside court - is to be sentenced for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his home in the city.
Wyatt revealed those close to Cosby are telling him to "stay strong and stay focused" adding the shamed comedian is in "great spirits."
Cosby became known as America's Dad for his role as Dr Cliff Huxtable on the top-rated 'Cosby Show' - which was hit around the world.
Cosby faces up to 10 years on each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault, although it is unlikely the judge would go as high as 30 years, according to legal experts.
State sentencing guidelines, which are not mandatory, recommend a sentence between two and four years.
Cosby's first trial in 2017 ended in a mistrial when jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict.
Soon after that proceeding, a series of women began leveling sexual misconduct allegations against influential men, launching the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements that have encouraged victims to speak up about their experiences.
The judge allowed prosecutors to call five other accusers as witnesses in Cosby's second trial over the objections of his defense team, bolstering Constand's account.
All of the women told stories that were markedly similar to Constand's - Cosby would offer to be their mentor before plying them with alcohol and drugs and sexually assaulting them.