Jail bird Harvey Weinstein’s sentence explained

HARVEY Weinstein, the once powerful Hollywood movie producer, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 for rape and sexual assault of two women in a landmark #MeToo case. 

Here is a breakdown of what the 67-year-old's sentence means and how long he will be imprisoned. 

Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years jail in Manhattan Criminal Court.

How long is Harvey Weinstein's jail sentence? 

Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years jail in Manhattan Criminal Court - 20 years for forcibly performing oral sex on his production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006, and three for the third-degree rape of Jessica Mann in 2013. 

Weinstein's legal team had asked for the minimum five-year term and Weinstein looked blank when the judge announced the 23-year term and later said he was "confused" by the lengthy sentence — which his lawyers say is equivalent to life in prison. 

Lead prosecutor Joan Illuzzi had asked Judge James Burke to sentence Weinstein to near the maximum of 29 years in prison.

How long will Harvey Weinstein spend in prison? 

Weinstein will not be eligible for parole for 20 years. His defense attorney Donna Rotunno said he would likely die in jail and "won't see the light of day." 

Weinstein, who turns 68-years-old on March 19, is “obviously not the picture of health,” his lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said. 

Outside court she said Judge Burke had “caved” and Weinstein "never had a fair shake". 

The disgraced movie mogul's defense team has long used his apparently deteriorating health as an excuse for a more lenient sentence. 

Weinstein still faces extradition to California for sexual assault charges in Los Angeles. 

"No arraignment date has been set. Once a date has been set, our office will notify the public," Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey told The Sun.

Where will Harvey Weinstein serve his prison sentence?

Weinstein will be transferred from Rikers island prison, part of New York City's jail system, to the state prison system and has been ordered to register as a sex offender following his sentence.

Before beginning his 23 year sentence, he will undergo a thorough evaluation, including a comprehensive medical review, to determine which facility is best for his physical and security needs.

He is likely to spend time at the Fishkill Correctional Facility in Beacon, his lawyer Arthur Aidala told The Hollywood Reporter.

The medium-security facility for men is located roughly 80 miles north of New York City, and Aidala said it has a hospital.

Weinstein could also end up at Coxsackie Correctional Facility, according to the Daily Mail, a maximum-security prison for men that has a medical unit in Greene County.

All New York state correctional facilities provide medical, dental and mental health services, according to the department’s website.

After his conviction on February 24, Weinstein was supposed to be taken to the notorious Rikers Island jail complex until his sentencing, but spent more than a week in Manhattan’s Bellevue Hospital for high blood pressure and heart palpitations.

Will Harvey Weinstein appeal his sentence?

Weinstein's defense attorney Donna Rotunno said they would lodge an appeal in July against the jury's decision to convict him of two of the five charges he faced as the sentence was "too harsh".

He was cleared of first-degree rape and predatory sexual assault.

After Weinstein was sentenced he issued a rambling apology to men at the Manhattan criminal court and said in court he had "deep remorse" for what he's done, but his attorney said the producer would not apologize to victims because of the pending appeal.

Reference: The Sun newspaper: Claire Colley- 13 march 2020, 13:43