New York .- A New York judge on Wednesday imposed a 15-year prison sentence on the once-powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein for the charge of first-degree sexual assault, for which he was found guilty last year after being accused by former production assistant Miriam Haley of forcing her to perform oral sex on him in 2006.
Weinstein, 74, apologized and listened to the sentencing from his wheelchair. The producer was facing a sentence of up to 25 years in prison for this crime.
In 2020, Weinstein received a conviction in New York following a trial in which Haley and another woman accused him of sexually assaulting them in 2006 and 2013, respectively, but that conviction was subsequently overturned by an appeals court, which considered that procedural errors had been committed.
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Haley’s accusation brought Weinstein to trial again last year, when he was found guilty once more.
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The Prosecutor’s Office had requested 20 years in prison
In imposing the sentence, the judge stated that Weinstein will be remembered for his numerous films, which will contrast “with what he did, with what he became: a sexual predator, the literal face of the #MeToo movement.”
Before the sentence was handed down, Weinstein listened in the courtroom to the prosecution, which had requested a 20-year prison sentence for him plus another five years of supervised release. The prosecution thanked Haley for her “courage and tenacity” and stated that Weinstein had never shown remorse and “refuses to accept responsibility for this crime.”
Prosecutors said his actions pose a “significant threat to society” and that a punishment is necessary to prevent other powerful figures from doing the same, abusing their power, according to CBS News.
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Haley spoke out at Harvey’s sentencing hearing
Haley was also heard, who assured the judge that she did not expect to have to relive what happened, after six years had passed since the first trial.
She stated that the sexual assault she was subjected to affected her confidence both professionally and personally. She said that what happened in 2006 remained a dark and painful secret and that she has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
She recalled that she faced cyberbullying and that the defendant’s legal team ridiculed her and she was followed by private investigators, CBS adds.
The last turn, prior to the sentencing, was for Weinstein, who apologized “sincerely to those I may have hurt” with his actions and immediately reiterated his innocence.
“I feel true remorse for Miriam Haley,” he assured the judge before the sentence was handed down.
The judge indicated that although the former producer, who has been diagnosed with several illnesses, no longer poses a physical threat, he remains a sexual predator.
In addition to this sentence, Weinstein has been serving another 16-year sentence since 2022 for rape and sexual assault in Los Angeles.
