US: Weinstein convicted on 2 sex crimes charges

WASHINGTON

A New York jury found disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein guilty on Monday of two of the five charges against him stemming from allegations brought by two women in a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement.

Weinstein was convicted of third-degree rape and committing a first-degree criminal sexual act.

The first offense stems from a sexual assault in 2013, while the sex act charge stemmed from Weinstein's sexual assault of former production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his New York apartment in 2006.

Mimi Haleyi, a production assistant, accused Weinstein of forcing her to perform a sex act on her in his Manhattan apartment while a second, unidentified, woman accuses Weinstein of rape in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013.

The jury handed down their verdict after deliberating for five days.

Weinstein now faces up to 25 years in prison, and has been ordered to report immediately to prison, according to multiple reports. His sentencing has been scheduled for March 11.

"This is the new landscape for survivors of sexual assault in America, I believe, and this is a new day," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance told reporters. "Harvey Weinstein has finally been held accountable for crimes he committed. The women who came forward courageously and at great risk made that happen."

Weinstein now faces charges in a separate case in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors there unsealed a four-count indictment against Weinstein as his New York trial was underway that includes one felony county each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint. The charges are related to two incidents during a two-day period in 2013.

The first incident, which prosecutors say occurred Feb. 18 of that year, began when Weinstein forcibly entered a woman's hotel room and raped her. The following evening he is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman at a Beverly Hills hotel.

“We believe the evidence will show that the defendant used his power and influence to gain access to his victims and then commit violent crimes against them,” District Attorney Lacey said in a statement announcing the new charges.

He faces up to 28 years in state prison if convicted in the Los Angeles case.