MISTRIAL Bill Cosby -- Charged W/Aggravated Sexual Assault/Other Rape Allegations #5

[Donjeta]

In your Post #265 you linked to an article by Dr. Ahrens, a professor of psychology. According to that article (based upon a study she had comducted) she found that 2/3 actually DO report.

That is a misunderstanding of the research. The statistics in the above post refer to the percentage of victims who report it to the POLICE.

The study that zencompass linked in post #295 says,

Nearly two-thirds of all rape survivors disclose the assault to at least one person

That could be their mom or their boyfriend or someone on facebook, not the police.

The study Dr Ahrens conducted was an interview of 8 persons about their experiences about who was the first person they told and how they reacted.

 

[zencompass]

Dr. Ahrens interviewed rape survivors who disclosed to study reactions they encountered. Her concern is why women feel "silenced". It was claimed that 2/3 of women tell someone. Unfortunately telling someone is not the same as "reporting to the police". If it were so then the statistics for reported sexual assault would be high and then serial rapists could be arrested.

The article written by Dr. Ahrens concerned the negative social reaction that these survivors encountered. Until we all work together to change the "status quo" then women will be hesitant to "report". I wish that the rates of reporting sexual assaults were higher but unfortunately they are not.

 

[zencompass]

That is a misunderstanding of the research. The statistics in the above post refer to the percentage of victims who report it to the POLICE.

The study that zencompass linked in post #295 says,


That could be their mom or their boyfriend or someone on facebook, not the police.

Thank you Donjeta - you explained it much better than I could.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The day that the criminal charges were filed against Cosby, I watched CNN coverage throughout the day. I saw Gloria Allred's presser live and later watched Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon with legal talking heads (Mark Garagos, Tom Mesereau) who had represented high profile offenders in various criminal cases (Robert Blake, Phil Spector, Michael Jackson). Both attorneys suggested that, if the Cosby case ever goes to trial, it would rank as one of the most significant criminal trials in history given the high profile nature of the defendant.

I realize that there are convicted sexual predators/rapists in prisons everywhere, but has there ever been a "high profile" case of sexual assault/rape that was successfully prosecuted? I'm interested in a historical perspective about the chances that this case will ever get to trial and whether or not the criminal prosecution would be successful.

 

[bluesneakers]

The day that the criminal charges were filed against Cosby, I watched CNN coverage throughout the day. I saw Gloria Allred's presser live and later watched Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon with legal talking heads (Mark Garagos, Tom Mesereau) who had represented high profile offenders in various criminal cases (Robert Blake, Phil Spector, Michael Jackson). Both attorneys suggested that, if the Cosby case ever goes to trial, it would rank as one of the most significant criminal trials in history given the high profile nature of the defendant.

I realize that there are convicted sexual predators/rapists in prisons everywhere, but has there ever been a "high profile" case of sexual assault/rape that was successfully prosecuted? I'm interested in a historical perspective about the chances that this case will ever get to trial and whether or not the criminal prosecution would be successful.

Roman Polanski comes to mind but that was in the days before the internet and 24-hour news cycles.

 

[thorpedo]

The day that the criminal charges were filed against Cosby, I watched CNN coverage throughout the day. I saw Gloria Allred's presser live and later watched Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon with legal talking heads (Mark Garagos, Tom Mesereau) who had represented high profile offenders in various criminal cases (Robert Blake, Phil Spector, Michael Jackson). Both attorneys suggested that, if the Cosby case ever goes to trial, it would rank as one of the most significant criminal trials in history given the high profile nature of the defendant.

I realize that there are convicted sexual predators/rapists in prisons everywhere, but has there ever been a "high profile" case of sexual assault/rape that was successfully prosecuted? I'm interested in a historical perspective about the chances that this case will ever get to trial and whether or not the criminal prosecution would be successful.

Mike Tyson is the only one that I can think of.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I can't speak to the veracity of this website, but here's a list of celebrities who were accused and/or convicted of statutory sexual assault/rape. IIRC, none of Cosby's alleged victims were underage.

http://www.ageofconsent.com/comments/numberthirtynine.htm

 

[ILOKAL]

Thank you Donjeta - you explained it much better than I could.

I didn't misunderstand the research referred to in Ahrens' article. Like I said in my post, 2/3 of the women in the group from which the final eight were selected, reported the incident to someone within three days of the alleged assault. Some of those included in that 2/3 did report to LE.

I don't recall if those women who didn't report to LE were asked what their specific reason was for not reporting?

 

[Donjeta]

OK it seemed to be a misunderstanding since you quoted the article as if it was in somehow opposition with the statistics that most don't report it to the police, which it is not.

 

[ILOKAL]

I can't speak to the veracity of this website, but here's a list of celebrities who were accused and/or convicted of statutory sexual assault/rape. IIRC, none of Cosby's alleged victims were underage.

http://www.ageofconsent.com/comments/numberthirtynine.htm

At least one of the women met BC when she was 17 but a sexual relationship between them didn't begin until she was of age, at which time she was his mistress for a few years before the alleged assault occurred.

 

[Donjeta]

Judy Huth says she was 15.

 

[ILOKAL]

OK it seemed to be a misunderstanding since you quoted the article as if it was in somehow opposition with the statistics that most don't report it to the police, which it is not.

There isn't always consistency in the usage of the word "reported". Although the term "reported" might mean "reported to LE" in some discussions, in others it seems to mean reporting to various people/agencies.

 

[Donjeta]

There isn't always consistency in the usage of the word "reported". Although the term "reported" might mean "reported to LE" in some discussions, in others it seems to mean reporting to various people/agencies.

So you didn't read the links? They are pretty explicit that they're talking about reporting to the law enforcement and not just "people".

It's difficult to find statistics of unreported sexual assault under 60%.

The Department of Justice claims 65% http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/press/vnrp0610pr.cfm

From the link:

On average, an estimated 211,200 rapes and sexual assaults went unreported to police each year between 2006 and 2010. Although serious violent crime was generally less likely to go unreported to the police than simple assault, a higher percentage of rape or sexual assault (65 percent) than simple assault (56 percent) victimizations went unreported over the five-year period.

The National Sexual Offender Public Website claims 70% are not reported:
https://www.nsopw.gov/en/Education/FactsStatistics

From there:

Approximately 30% of sexual assault cases are reported to authorities. 3

Adults:
Only 16% of all rapes were reported to law enforcement. 12

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) claims 68% of of sexual assaults are not reported:
https://rainn.org/statistics

From there:

68 % of sexual assaults are not reported to the police.

 

[Donjeta]

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/...-two-sexual-assault-cases-20160106-story.html

Los Angeles County prosecutors on Wednesday declined to file charges in two sexual assault cases involving Bill Cosby.

One case involved Chloe Goins, 24, who alleged that she was assaulted at the Playboy Mansion in 2008 when she was 18.
...
The second case involved a woman who said that Cosby raped her in 1965 when she was 17 years old.

 

[ILOKAL]

So you didn't read the links? They are pretty explicit that they're talking about reporting to the law enforcement and not just "people".




From the link:






From there:



From there:

If you'll look at my post it is in reference to "discussions".

 

[Chainsaw385]

One case involved Chloe Goins, 24, who alleged that she was assaulted at the Playboy Mansion in 2008 when she was 18.

This one doesn't surprise me

I haven't followed this case real closely but didn't BC have a pretty solid alibi (Chicago) and was not even at the playboy party when this was alleged to have happened.Since there can be no confusion on the dates.

I remember reading this and it could have been pure spin by the BC attorneys but it has been the only report I read so far ( I have not read all of them) that I feel is not completely genuine.

 

[zencompass]

The day that the criminal charges were filed against Cosby, I watched CNN coverage throughout the day. I saw Gloria Allred's presser live and later watched Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon with legal talking heads (Mark Garagos, Tom Mesereau) who had represented high profile offenders in various criminal cases (Robert Blake, Phil Spector, Michael Jackson). Both attorneys suggested that, if the Cosby case ever goes to trial, it would rank as one of the most significant criminal trials in history given the high profile nature of the defendant.

I realize that there are convicted sexual predators/rapists in prisons everywhere, but has there ever been a "high profile" case of sexual assault/rape that was successfully prosecuted? I'm interested in a historical perspective about the chances that this case will ever get to trial and whether or not the criminal prosecution would be successful.

Excellent points! Food for thought....

The high profile of this case in the news has the issue of the Statute of Limitations front and center being vigorously debated. Should this case go to trial, the periods of time to report could be increased with enough public pressure and debate.

As for a historical perspective - you've got me there! Here is someone who was not only a comedian and an actor but created lovable kids' cartoon characters and even did the voices. This is a celebrity who was an icon before we used the term "icon" - he was a regular on Sesame Street and millions of people feel they "grew up with him" over the years with the Cosby Show.

He was a "brand", a "type" that if someone said we need a "Cosby type" there would be a clear and concise picture of someone "trusted" as part of his "brand" was "trust" which was stamped on every jello commercial, every Cosby segment, Fat Albert cartoons. Trust = Cosby and Cosby = Trust . The branding worked (it always does!) and I think that is why so many people are having a difficult time accepting that Bill Cosby could be a sexual predator.

Because of the accused working with children (especially young girls) - this case crosses all boundaries.

 

[Tawny]

Oh my god i just realized Cosby was in Picture Pages.

 

[ILOKAL]

This one doesn't surprise me

I haven't followed this case real closely but didn't BC have a pretty solid alibi (Chicago) and was not even at the playboy party when this was alleged to have happened.Since there can be no confusion on the dates.

I remember reading this and it could have been pure spin by the BC attorneys but it has been the only report I read so far ( I have not read all of them) that I feel is not completely genuine.

I believe this 2008 case with Chloe Goins was the only one that was within the statute of limitations. I also read her story and BC did have a solid alibi that he wasn't even at the party and had documentation to prove it. With that being the apparent case, I find it difficult to refer to her story as less than completely genuine. Her story is not truthful, but nonetheless, I guess many would still consider her story to be "her truth".

 

[Donjeta]

If you'll look at my post it is in reference to "discussions".

I am talking about what was discussed here.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...er-Rape-Allegations-5&p=12275182#post12275182

If you read the links referenced in the quoted posts, you will see that the discussions about statistics on those sites that about 2/3 don't report are quite explicitly about the frequency of people reporting sexual assault to law enforcement, and imo there is no ambiguity there. The 2/3 number that you quoted from Dr Ahren's research refer to people who tell someone, anyone, about the sexual assault.

It's two different things altogether and we wouldn't like anyone reading this to get the wrong idea that Dr Ahrens' research somehow contradicted the RAINNS, DOJ and National Sex Offender public website statistics.