Harvey Weinstein has begged for mercy after a California judge sentenced him to an additional 16 years behind bars.
The 70-year-old disgraced film producer was handed the sentence in a Los Angeles courtroom yesterday (February 23) - two months after a jury convicted him of three counts of rape and sexual assault.
He is already serving a 23-year sentence in New York for a separate conviction after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault in that jurisdiction in 2020, per The Independent.
The conviction was seen as a landmark in the #MeToo movement which encouraged women to speak out about the rampant sexual abuse and harassment they face in the film and television industry.
Harvey Weinstein leaving a Manhattan Court during his sexual misconduct trial in 2020. Credit: UPI / AlamyNow, the former Hollywood executive was sentenced for the rape of an actress - named Jane Doe 1 to protect her anonymity - at a Beverly Hills hotel in Los Angeles in 2013.
In December, the jury found him guilty of rape, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration by a foreign object, as noted by Sky News.
According to an outlet, Weinstein called the case against him a "set-up" before learning his fate. He also pleaded: "This is a made-up story. Jane Doe 1 is an actress. She can turn the tears on.
"Please don't sentence me to life in prison. I don't deserve it. There are so many things wrong with this case," he told the courtroom.
"There are too many loopholes. Too many things wrong with this case. This is a setup. This is not the way to act in this situation," adding, "I beg your mercy."
Women protesting against Weinstein outside a Manhattan Court. Credit: UPI / AlamyThe California case stated that the convicted sex offender forced his way into an unidentified Italian actress and model's room and raped her.
The victim tearfully recounted her trauma in court and said (as cited by NBC Washington): "Before that night I was a very happy and confident woman. I valued myself and the relationship I had with God.
"I was excited about my future. Everything changed after the defendant brutally assaulted me. There is no prison sentence long enough to undo the damage," she added.
Her lawyer, Dave Ring, also said after the verdict: "The sentencing today provides Jane Doe 1 with closure and relief, knowing Weinstein will spend the rest of his life in prison where he belongs," per Sky News.
"It took tremendous courage for Jane Doe 1 and the other victims to come forward and testify... Weinstein is out of options," the lawyer added.
Harvey Weinstein will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Credit: UPI / AlamyWeinstein - once one of the most powerful figures in the acting industry - has claimed that all of his sexual encounters had been consensual and pleaded not guilty in the Los Angeles case.
His legal team also sought a three-year sentence for him and requested that the judge takes into account his deteriorating health, with his spokesman Juda Engelmayer describing the sentence as harsh.
"There are many out there who will celebrate this action, but it is a sad day for justice and fairness, and I hope no one who is pleased with this is ever caught on the wrong side of cancel culture while hopelessly and voicelessly proclaiming innocence," Engelmayer told NBC News.
The BBC noted that the Oscar-winning movie producer was sat in court looking away and didn't react after the sentence was read.
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