New Charges Brought Against Harvey Weinstein Could Mean Life Sentence In Prison

—blogged by @lovelikejhoney

Hollywood mogul, #HarveyWeinstein was initially looking at a maximum 25 years in prison for the charges brought against him by two women. However, after Monday’s hearing, another victim has come forward making the maximum sentence life in prison if found guilty. 

“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. This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors who have come forward. Our investigation continues. If you are a survivor of the predatory abuse with which Mr. Weinstein is charged, there is still time to pursue justice. Please call us at 212-335-9373,” Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. announced Monday. 

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The Grand Jury first charged the Academy Award-winning producer with one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree for a forcible sexual act against a woman in 2006, and two counts of predatory sexual assault, although, more than 80 women have come forward with a variety of sexual allegations against Weinstein within the past year. Aside from the numerous forthcoming of victims and witnesses, a class action lawsuit was also recently filed by three women against the disgraced filmmaker. Yet, Weinstein still denies all allegations and claims each of the interactions were consensual. 

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“Mr. Weinstein maintains that all of these allegations are false and he expects to be fully vindicated,” Defense Attorney, Ben Brafman, told E! News in a statement. “Furthermore, to charge Mr. Weinstein as a predator when the interactions were each consensual is simply not justified.” 

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In late May, Weinstein was charged with rape, a criminal sex act, sex abuse and sexual misconduct for alleged incidents involving two separate women in 2013 and 2004. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during an arraignment in New York City, and is currently released on a $1 million bail. He has also agreed to wear a GPS tracker and to surrender his passport.

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So far, New York is the only jurisdiction to seek criminal charges against Weinstein, yet he remains under investigation in California and London.