Harvey Weinstein Sentenced to 15 Years for Sexual Assault

Harvey Weinstein, the former Hollywood producer mired in controversy, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after a retrial found him guilty of sexual assault.

Judge Curtis Farber delivered the sentence on Wednesday in a Manhattan courtroom, more than a year after Weinstein, now 74, was convicted of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a former production assistant on “Project Runway,” in 2006 at his apartment.

“You took what you wanted by force, and you have never accepted responsibility,” the judge remarked, expressing strong disapproval of Weinstein’s actions.

Following the prison term, Weinstein will also face five years of supervised release and is required to register as a sex offender.

Despite the conviction, Weinstein had pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree criminal sexual act.

In her victim impact statement, Haley emphasized how Weinstein “abused his position and power” and acknowledged the lasting impact his actions have had on her life, indicating it has “devastated my sense of security.”

“Making the decision to speak up will have me looking over my shoulder for years to come,” she stated, adding, “It is a life sentence for me.”

While addressing the court, Weinstein maintained his innocence regarding the allegations, although he did apologize to “anyone I may have hurt by my actions.”

“I am not a perfect person,” he acknowledged, stating, “but I am a person who has made mistakes … I am not a violent man.”

Weinstein’s legal troubles began in 2018 when he surrendered to the New York Police Department. After his arrest, he was released later that day on a $1 million cash bail, turning over his passport and agreeing to wear a GPS monitoring device.

Initially, he faced trial in New York in 2020, where he was convicted for forcibly performing oral sex on Haley and received a 23-year sentence. However, this conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals due to concerns about testimony related to allegations that were not part of the charges against him.

The retrial in June 2025 resulted in a guilty verdict for the same charge, although Weinstein was acquitted of separate sexual assault allegations involving a model and the jury could not reach a decision on another rape charge involving an actress.

Weinstein’s legal team requested a lighter sentence, presenting arguments about his deteriorating health and suggesting that a lengthy term could result in him dying in prison.

Outside the courthouse after the sentencing, Haley expressed her gratitude for the judge’s decision. “I think he’s taken all things into consideration, and I think that … the sentence was fair, in my opinion,” she remarked.