Disgraced producer will start his prison term after completing his 23-year sentence from the New York trial.
Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault at his Los Angeles trial in December, and he was given an additional 16 years in jail on Thursday.
Weinstein was given a 16-year jail sentence on Thursday at his sentencing hearing by LA County Judge Lisa Lench, to be served following the completion of the 23-year sentence he is now serving for charges he was found guilty of in New York.
The Los Angeles sentence assures that Weinstein, who is 70 years old, will spend the rest of his life in prison unless his attorneys are successful in their appeal. Prior to the judge handing down a sentence, his attorney said, “He’s a 70-year-old man in poor condition.”
After the jury found Weinstein guilty of the three offenses stemming from a February 2013 incident in which Weinstein allegedly forced himself on an Italian actress after forcing his way into her Los Angeles hotel room, Weinstein was given a maximum sentence of 18 years in prison.
But, after 10 days of deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a decision regarding the sexual battery by restraint and rape charges against Lauren Young and Jennifer Seibel Newsom, the wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom. On those three charges, mistrials were declared.
When given the chance to address the court prior to punishment, Weinstein stated, “I maintain that I’m innocent,” according to the Associated Press. I never sexually assaulted or raped Jane Doe 1. This woman is someone I’ve never met, and she doesn’t know who I am either. This is a financial issue.
She lied to herself, the speaker said. This tale has been made up. Actress Jane Doe 1 is a. She is able to make herself cry. Please don’t give me a life sentence. I’m not worthy of it. There are numerous issues with this case. There are far too many flaws. There are far too many issues with this case. It’s all a setup. This is not appropriate behavior in this circumstance.
Over three years had passed since a different jury in New York had found Weinstein guilty of related counts. In that case, he received a 23-year prison term.
Yet, this summer, Weinstein’s legal team will appeal his New York verdict. The Los Angeles sentence may guarantee that the 70-year-old Weinstein spends his remaining years in prison if that appeal is ultimately successful. Weinstein may serve the New York term in prison until 2043 if the appeal is unsuccessful.
Since a Pulitzer Prize-winning exposé by New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey revealed Weinstein had been paying off sexual assault accusers for years, more than a hundred women, including actors Ashley Judd, Annabella Sciorra, Mira Sorvino, Salma Hayek, Rosanna Arquette, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paz de la Huerta, and Asia Argento, have come forward to say they were sexually harass
