Bill Cosby: Pennsylvania Board Denies Parole

Pennsylvania Supreme Court allows Bill Cosby to appeal 1:20

(CNN) -

The Pennsylvania Parole Board denied Bill Cosby parole and cited a number of reasons for its decision, according to a board letter obtained by CNN.

Cosby, 83, is currently serving a 3- to 10-year sentence in a suburban Philadelphia prison for drugging and sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee at her home in 2004.

The letter, which stated that the board's decision was issued on May 11, said Cosby must "participate in and complete additional institutional programs."

The board cited Cosby's "failure to develop a parole plan" and a "negative recommendation from the Department of Corrections" as contributing factors to the decision.

The letter stated that in Cosby's next interview with the board, the board will review and consider whether he has participated in and successfully completed a sexual offender treatment and violence prevention program.

• Bill Cosby's spokesman calls Eddie Murphy a "Hollywood slave" after SNL's appearance

Cosby, according to the letter, must maintain a "clear conduct record."

advertising

Andrew Wyatt, a spokesman for the disgraced actor, said the news of the denial did not surprise Cosby, his family, friends and his legal team.

“Mr. Cosby has vehemently proclaimed his innocence and continues to deny all the accusations made against him, as false, without the mere evidence of any proof.

Today, Mr. Cosby remains hopeful that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will issue an opinion to overturn his conviction or justify a new trial, "Wyatt said in a statement to CNN on Thursday.

Cosby was convicted and sentenced in 2018 in the #MeToo era's first high-profile celebrity criminal trial, following a mistrial in 2017.

Last December, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments on an appeal filed by Cosby's legal team to overturn the conviction, and a decision on the appeal has yet to be issued.

CNN's Eric Levenson contributed to this report.

Bill cosby