Bill Cosby's petition for parole was denied after he refused to take sex offender therapy

• Bill Cosby's petition for parole was denied on Thursday.
• He was told he needs to complete sexual violent predator therapy, but has refused.
• Cosby is serving a 10-year sentence for aggravated indecent assault.

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 being convicted 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 that Cosby's petition for parole was denied because he hasn't completed his sexual violent predator therapy, and that he needs to create a "parole release plan."

Andrew Wyatt, a spokesperson for Cosby, said in a statement shared with Insider that being denied 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.