Ex-film mogul Harvey Weinstein was sentenced on Thursday, 23 February to 16 more years in prison for the rape of a woman in a hotel room as per a report by BBC. This increases the chances that the disgraced Hollywood producer will spend the remainder of his life in prison.
In continuation of the report, Weinstein is already serving a 23-year prison sentence for a separate conviction in New York. The latest conviction was ordered by a Los Angeles court for the assault of a European actress a decade ago. As per Los Angeles Times, Judge Lisa Lench ruled that he cannot serve the two sentences concurrently.
According to Weinstein's attorney, Mark Werksman, the combined sentences ensure Weinstein will not be eligible for release until at least the 2050s.
The ex-producer begged for leniency in a Los Angeles court, as per the report, he said, "Please don't sentence me to life in prison," Adding, "I don't deserve it."
As per reports, Weinstein has denied all charges and is appealing his New York conviction, even though an earlier attempt to do so had led to failure.
Earlier, on 19 December, a Los Angeles jury convicted him of one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault involving a female actor.
He produced critically acclaimed films like The English Patient and Good Will Hunting before his career fell apart in 2017. Investigations by the New York Times and the New Yorker revealed that he had abused his status in the industry to exploit models and actors - dozens of women accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.
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