The court decision to throw out Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction and release him from prison prompted shock and outrage.

But advocates for victims of sexual assault say the decision does not change the facts of the case, and that over 60 women accused him of assaulting them under similar circumstances.

Cosby has maintained his innocence throughout, but he gave testimony which incriminated himself in a deposition.

“He is free today because there was a previous deal that he would not be tried in regard to this allegation. Not because their stories were untrue, not because there was new evidence, but because of a technicality,” said Lauren Peterson, executive director of Women’s Resources of Monroe County.

Cosby’s 2018 conviction for sexual assault was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday. They found that the prosecutor who brought the case was bound by his predecessor’s decision to not charge Cosby for the 2004 incident.

The decision was an example of the many challenges that victims face in bringing accusations of sexual assault to court. Sexual assault cases often come down to the word of one person versus another, making them more difficult to prosecute than, say, a burglary, Peterson said, adding that over 70% of sexual assault charges never make it to the trial stage.

“When guilty verdicts are overturned, or juries or judges don’t feel there is enough evidence, that adds to victims not feeling they will be supported to come forward and press charges against their rapist,” she said.

Cosby was only charged after he gave a sworn deposition in a lawsuit brought by Andrea Constand, the former Temple University athletic department employee who accused him of assault. He also admitted to giving a 19-year-old woman quaaludes before having sex with her in 1976. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said that Cosby wouldn’t have made that admission if the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office hadn’t said in 2005 that it wouldn’t charge him criminally.

When the jurors in Cosby’s case delivered a guilty verdict, it was heralded as a sign that sexual assault victims were going to get more support in the court system. He was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the #MeToo era.

Suzanne Beck is the Chief Executive Officer of Victims Resource Center, which serves crime victims in three counties including Carbon. She said Tuesday’s decision was devastating for Cosby’s victims and women in general because his conviction had showed that people can’t get away with assault just because they are rich and powerful.

“When the conviction came through it was a mark that people like that weren’t above the law. Certainly my hope is that this decision will not deter other people from reporting sexual assaults and following through,” she said.

But Cosby’s case hasn’t been the only victory for the movement. Harvey Weinstein has also been convicted of his crimes.

Advocates say that today, victims are more likely to be believed when they share their stories. Beck said there is a long way to go, and Cosby’s release doesn’t help, but she will continue to work to continue the progress that has been made.

“We all have a role to play in making our community safer and being more supportive to survivors and finding justice for survivors. And we continue to move toward that,” she said.

Victims Resource Center’s hotline for crime victims in Carbon County is 610-379-0151. Women’s Resources of Monroe County’s crisis hotline is 570-421-4200. Schuylkill Hope Center for Victims of Domestic Violence, formerly Schuylkill Women in Crisis, is available by calling 570-622-3991.