Bill Cosby‘s petition for parole was denied by the Pennsylvania Parole Board after the disgraced comedian refused to take a therapy program meant for sex offenders.
Cosby, 83, is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for aggravated indecent assault; after his conviction in the 2004 rape of Andrea Constand.
He could become eligible for parole in September after completing a three-year minimum of his sentence.
But Laura Treaster, a spokeswoman for the state parole board, told Reuters the reason why the court denied his petition for parole; Cosby hasn’t completed his sexual violent predator therapy to validate parole. Treaster added that he needs to create a “parole release plan.”
Cosby’s spokesperson Andrew Wyatt said in a statement that the denial of his parole was “not a surprise.”
“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,” Wyatt said. “Today, Mr. Cosby continues to remain hopeful that the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court will issue an opinion to vacate his conviction… Or warrant him a new trial.”
Cosby has filed an appeal in his case, and has a hearing before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in December.