Entertainment
Long-time Academy member Jeffrey Cooper sentenced to 8 years in prison for child sex abuse-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro
Cooper enjoys a reputation as a leader in his field in Hollywood.
The architect and audio engineer was convicted in May after his 2018 arrest (Picture: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Long-time Academy member Jeffrey Cooper has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually assaulting a child.
Cooper, 70, sexually assaulted a girl, who was between 12 and 13 years old at the time, at his home between 2005 and 2007.
A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2002, he was convicted on three felony counts of performing lewd acts upon a child in May.
As well as his prison sentence, which was delivered on Monday, Cooper will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Cooper’s work in the industry as an architect and acoustic engineer saw him design leading cinemas and sound studios in Hollywood, including the 600-seat theatre for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which hosts the Emmys.
He has also built home studios for the likes of Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Cooper was sentenced at the Van Nuys Courthouse in California (Picture: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The victim, now 28, testified during the trial over their relationship, recalling how he had befriended her over their shared interest in music and theatre before molesting her in his basement recording studio.
‘Over a decade later, this still haunts me. I should feel empowered but I feel gross. I really try not to think about it. It really knocks me off my feet,’ she said, according to The Wrap.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said: ‘Children are the most vulnerable members of our community.
‘Mr Cooper abused his position of trust and caused incredible harm to helpless victims.
He is said to have designed home cinemas for leading directors like Spielberg, as well as the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ theatre (Picture: Getty)
He has been a member of the Academy for two decades (Picture: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
‘I know that nothing can undo the trauma that they have endured, but I hope the victims find peace and healing now that this criminal process is complete.’
A member of the prestigious Academy for his contributions to acoustic and theatre design for 20 years, the industry body is yet to comment publicly following Cooper’s conviction.
It has previously expelled members over sexual abuse charges in the past, including Harvey Weinstein in 2017 and Roman Polanski in 2018.
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At the start of Cooper’s trial, the Academy released a statement which read: ‘The Academy has been made aware of the alleged abhorrent behaviour and will address this matter according to our Standards of Conduct and the due process requirements under California nonprofit corporation law.
‘We would have grounds, under our rules, to expel any member convicted of a violent crime.’
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