Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison. That was Judge Burke’s ruling on Wednesday morning in New York City after Weinstein, the former Miramax head honcho, was found guilty last month of one count of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and one count of rape in the third degree. Weinstein could have gotten up to 30 years; his lawyers were going for 5, but he ended up getting practically the worst-case scenario sentencing. Many experts were predicting him to be sentenced 10 to 15 years max, but 23?! Unprecedented.
The February 24th verdict found him guilty of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley at his Soho apartment in July of 2006, while the third-degree rape charge involved the assault of actress Jessica Mann at a hotel in New York back in March of 2003.
Weinstein has been sent to Rikers Island prison.
Variety reports that during the sentencing, Weinstein expressed “deep remorse” to the courtroom; he also “pushed back at the #MeToo movement, implying that it had gone too far.” Weinstein told the courtroom, “I am totally confused. I think men are confused about all of this…this feeling of thousands of men and women who are losing due process, I’m worried about this country.”
Weinstein still faces a sexual misconduct trial in Los Angeles later next month, which involves another two female accusers. Whilst in France, another actress has also sued him for sexual assault.
Suffice to say, Mr. Weinstein is fucked.