Harvey Weinstein Found Guilty Of Rape & Criminal Sexual Act, Faces Up to 29 Years In Prison

Harvey Weinstein was found guilty on Monday of criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree, and was acquitted by the jury of the two more serious charges of predatory sexual assault.

The disgraced movie mogul could face anywhere from five to 29 years in prison.

Weinstein was found guilty of criminal sexual act related to Miriam Haley and rape in the third degree related to Jessica Mann. He was acquitted of rape in the first degree against Mann. He was also acquitted of predatory sexual assault on both counts, which suggests that the jury did not find probable cause that Weinstein sexually assaulted Annabella Sciorra in the 90s. Sciorra’s accusations would have to be believed by the jury in order for Weinstein to be found guilty of predatory sexual assault of Haley and Mann. Sciorra’s accusations had passed the statute of limitations to stand on their own as sexual assault charges, but they stood to show a past pattern of sexual assault for Haley and Mann’s accusations of predatory sexual assault.

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Weinstein has been jailed and is awaiting his sentencing set for March 11.

Criminal sexual act in the first degree has a prison sentence of at least five years, but can go up to 25 years. Rape in the third degree could have a sentence of probation to four years in prison.

“This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault, I believe, and this is a new day,” said the prosecutor Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. after the verdict.

“This trial — and the jury’s decision today — marks a new era of justice, not just for the Silence Breakers, who spoke out at great personal risk, but for all survivors of harassment, abuse, and assault at work,” said the president of Time’s Up, Tina Tchen in a statement.

“This case reminds us that sexual violence thrives on unchecked power and privilege. The implications reverberate far beyond Hollywood and into the daily lives of all of us in the rest of the world,” tweeted #MeToo founder Tarana Burke in a statement. “And, though today a man has been found guilty, we have to wonder whether anyone will care about the rest of us tomorrow. This is why we say MeToo.”

The jury deliberated for 26.5 hours. Before the verdict was announced, a motion for mistrial by the defense was denied on Monday morning.

Weinstein’s attorney has started to process an appeal, according to his publicist, Juda Engelmayer.

Weinstein also faces separate charges of sexual assault and rape in Los Angeles.