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Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to an Additional 16 Years: Every Scandal From New York to Los Angeles
Harvey Weinstein quickly fell from grace when reports of his sexual misconduct hit the headlines in 2017. Reporters Jodi Kantor and
What Was Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty Of?
Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years behind bars in a Los Angeles courtroom on February 23, 2023, after being found guilty of three counts of rape and sexual assault, Greg Risling from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office confirmed to In Touch. The charges were specifically brought by a Jane Doe #1, who testified against Weinstein, accusing him of raping her in 2013. The conviction adds to the 23-year sentence that Weinstein was handed down in March 2020 by a New York jury, after being found guilty of rape the month prior.
In a press release obtained by In Touch after the New York conviction, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr. said, “We thank the court for imposing a sentence that puts sexual predators and abusive partners in all segments of society on notice.” He added, “We thank the survivors for their remarkable statements today and indescribable courage over the last two years. Harvey Weinstein deployed nothing less than an army of spies to keep them silent. But they refused to be silent, and they were heard. Their words took down a predator and put him behind bars, and gave hope to survivors of sexual violence all across the world.”
What Has Harvey Weinstein Said About His Crimes?
Prior to the 2020 verdict, Harvey told the court that he felt “remorse” and said he would try to “be a better person.” Addressing his accusers, the disgraced Hollywood mogul stated, “I’m not going to say that these aren’t great people … I’ve had wonderful times with these people.”
Weinstein’s accusers who testified during his New York trial — Jessica Mann, Miriam “Mimi” Haley, Annabella Sciorra, Tarale Wulff, Lauren Young and Dawn Dunning — sat in the front row of the courtroom during his sentencing.
While there have been several accusations of sexual misconduct made against the producer, his 2020 sentence referred to the rape of Mann in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on Haley in 2006.
How Long Will Harvey Weinstein Be in Jail?
Due to the 23-year New York conviction as well as the 16-year Los Angeles conviction, Weinstein – who is 70 as of publication – will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars, Variety reported on February 23, 2023. However, the media mogul’s legal team, including lawyers Mark Werksman and Alan Jackson, are still trying to fight the convictions. The New York Court of Appeals has agreed to hear Weinstein’s appeal, which may result in his 2020 sentencing. Meanwhile, a judge in Los Angeles struck down a January 2023 motion from Weinstein’s attorneys.
When Did Harvey Weinstein Turn Himself In?
In May 2018, Weinstein turned himself in and was indicted on further charges in July 2018. “A Manhattan Grand Jury has now indicted Harvey Weinstein on some of the most serious sexual offenses that exist under New York’s Penal Law,” Manhattan D.A. Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said in a statement at the time. “This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors who have come forward.”
According to Ben Brafman, one of the Weinstein’s lawyers, he planned to plead not guilty. “Mr. Weinstein maintains that all of these allegations are false, and he expects to be fully vindicated,” the attorney said. “Furthermore, to charge Mr. Weinstein as a predator when the interactions were each consensual is simply not justified.”
Greg Risling, a spokesman with the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office, declined to comment at the time on when Weinstein could be extradited to Los Angeles.
In the separate trial stemming from allegations by four women identified in the courtroom as Jane Does – which started in October 2022 – the Los Angeles Jury found the disgraced producer guilty on one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault on December 19, 2022. However, Weinstein was acquitted of one count of sexual battery, according to NBC News, CNN and The New York Times. Additionally, a jury could not decide on three other sexual assault charges against the former media mogul.
If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more.
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