Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to several counts of sexual assaults in California.
The disgraced film producer appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom after being extradited from New York on Tuesday. The Miramax co-founder pleaded not guilty to 11 counts stemming from sexual abuse claims from five women for assaults between 2004 to 2013.
Weinstein’s lawyer, Mark Werksman, requested a medical evaluation during the hearing and stated that he would challenge three of the 11 counts due to the statute of limitations allegedly being expired. After leaving court, Werksman said the charges should be thrown out because they are too old to prosecute.
Weinstein’s legal team has been fighting extradition since April, claiming that he required eye care at the Wende Correctional Facility outside Buffalo, New York. However, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office informed them that the 69-year-old would be treated for his condition while being housed at the Twin Towers facility.
Weinstein was already serving a 23-year sentence in New York for rape and sexual assault. If convicted of the Los Angeles charges, he could face 140 years in prison.
Harvey Weinstein is scheduled to appear back in court on July 29th.
