Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty of criminal sexual assault in the first degree and rape in the third degree, a jury concluded after five days of deliberations.
A jury of 12 men and women delivered the verdict on Monday morning in the New York County trial. After the verdict came down, Weinstein was remanded into custody despite protests from his lawyers, citing his health as the main issue. Weinstein will be sentenced on March 11 and faces five to 25 years in prison for criminal sexual assault conviction and 18 months to four years for the third-degree rape conviction.
The verdict comes after the jury suggested in a note on Friday they were deadlocked on the more serious charge of predatory sexual assault. Judge James Burke told the jury to “continue your deliberations” and on Monday, he was acquitted on the two counts of predatory sexual assault.
“All he kept saying over and over again was, ‘I’m innocent. I’m innocent. How could this happen in America? I’m innocent. I’m innocent,” Weinstein’s attorney Arthur Aidala said.
The verdict concludes a lengthy trial, which began on January 6. In total, six women testified that the 67-year-old had sexually assaulted them over the last three decades. Weinstein is still facing four charges in Los Angeles County.
