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Bill Cosby‘s petition for parole was denied earlier this month, a result that his spokesperson said was expected because the disgraced comedian refuses to admit guilt for the sex crime has convicted of.

The Pennsylvania Parole Board confirmed the denial of Cosby’s petition happened on May 11 and said in a statement that the prisoner did not comply with requirements that are part of the pre-parole-petitioning process. In particular, Cosby did not participate in therapy for people convicted of violent sexual crimes. In fact, the Pennsylvania Parole Board said, if Cosy wants to be considered for parole again, he needs to complete therapy, Reuters reported.

But Cosby’s rep says that’s only part of the real story. Andrew Wyatt used Cosby’s Instagram account to post a statement Thursday afternoon addressing the new reports of parole being denied and offered some context.

He said the news was “not a surprise” and said Cosby’s “innocence” is keeping him participating in the prison therapy.

“It was brought to our attention by Mr. Cosby that over the past months, members of the PA State Parole Board had met with him and empathically stated, ‘if he did not participate in SVP [Sexually Violent Predator] courses that his parole would be denied,’” the statement said in part. “Mr. Cosby has vehemently proclaimed his innocence and continues to deny all allegations made against him, as being false, without the sheer evidence of any proof.”

Cosby, 83,  has already served more than two of his three- to 10-year prison sentence after being convicted of sexual assault in 2018.

In December, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court seemed open to Cosby’s appeal to have his sentence thrown out during a hearing about the admissibility of the jury that convicted him hearing centered on “prior bad acts” testimony from accusers who were not plaintiffs in the case that stemmed from his own deposition that eventually prompted criminal charges.

The Court was restricted to only reviewing two facets of witness testimony during Cosby’s two criminal trials, including the infamous 2006 deposition during which he claimed then-Montgomery County prosecutor Bruce Castor offered him immunity in exchange for testimony. Cosby’s lawyers maintain that he never would have testified had he known his words would be used against him in court, which they say amounts to a violation of his constitutional right against self-incrimination.

“I tend to agree this evidence was extraordinarily prejudicial to your client,” Justice Max Baer told Cosby’s attorney during the hearing.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices disagreed with each other about whether witness testimony about Cosby established “a pattern.”

Cosby’s appeal for his verdict to be reviewed was accepted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court nearly a year ago. The development suggested Cosby’s conviction could ultimately be overturned.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court could take months to return a decision. Still, the statement released Thursday on Cosby’s Instagram said he “continues to remain hopeful that the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court will issue an opinion to vacate his conviction or warrant him a new trial.”

SEE ALSO:

Trump’s Impeachment Lawyer Is Ex-DA Who Gave Bill Cosby Immunity For Drugging, Groping Testimony

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Seems Open To Bill Cosby’s Appeal At ‘Prior Bad Acts’ Hearing

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