60 allegations of sexual misconduct and assault and found guilty on three accounts, once beloved actor Bill Cosby has been sentenced to 3-10 years in state prison without bail. The ruling seems completely inadequate for Cosby’s offences, both proven and not. He was found guilty for three accounts of sexual assault, all on one woman, Andrea Constand. The United States Bureau of Justice reports that those convicted of rape are, on average, sentenced to 11 years. Cosby, who was not convicted of rape will likely face significantly less time in jail. He was, however convicted of penetration with lack of consent, penetration while unconscious and penetration after administering an intoxicant. The New York Times reports that felons for each of these crimes alone can be punished with up to ten years in jail. Cosby, however, will serve these sentences “concurrently”, meaning all at once. he should not be granted the luxury of serving these convictions at the same time, because it doesn’t have the same effect. The man who committed the crimes should have to pay for each different one, and certainly for longer than three years. The fancy lingo in the sentencing should not mask that Cosby is a rapist, and should be held accountable.

Most of the other alleged assaults took place in California, where the statute of limitations on rape is 10 years. That having expired, Cosby cannot be incarcerated for those actions in particular, but those allegations can help to confirm the legitimacy of the others. It also proves that Cosby was and could potentially still be a significant threat to young women. In this case, making it fully justifiable that he will not be permitted to post bail. This is also serves as a powerful tool to dismantle the idea that men in power, specifically financially, cannot take advantage of women, regardless of their status.

This ruling comes amidst another trial about sexual assault. Christine Blasey Ford has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault at a party in high school. The statute of limitations being up on this case does not take precedence over the fact that Kavanaugh is being reviewed to take position in the highest court in the country. The trial itself is not a criminal case. Kavanaugh can and will not be convicted, but this could affect his credibility as a potential Supreme Court seat holder. Ford will testify against Kavanaugh, and if he is found to be guilty of sexual assault the question will remain: is he a viable option for the Supreme Court?

Both Cosby and Kavanaugh now must face backlash and extreme threats to their careers, even though they will not be convicted for many of the alleged assaults. The significance of these allegations lies not in their credibility, which should not be questioned, but in their ability to effect the lives of these men, long after they can be charged.

These allegations and trials should resonate with high school students as they are continuously being shown that they will be held accountable for their actions, especially surrounding sexual assault. The #MeToo movement has shown that sexual assault is a prevailing issue in our country, but has also brought a new level of accountability to those in the public eye, as predatory men, once held in high regard, must finally face the consequences of their actions.