Movie producer Harvey Weinstein, already accused by prosecutors of sexually assaulting two women in New York City, has been indicted on additional charges that he forced a third woman to have sex with him. One of the new charges, predatory sexual assault, carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, the New York Times reports. Once a powerful figure in Hollywood who could make or break careers, Weinstein, 66, was arrested in May on charges that he sexually assaulted two women, one in 2013 and one in 2004. He pleaded not guilty, and has said the encounters were consensual. A judge released him on $1 million bail as he awaits trial.
The updated indictment released on Monday accuses Weinstein of using force to compel a woman to allow him perform oral sex on her in July 2006. The woman was not identified in court papers. The additional charges are two counts of predatory sexual assault, and one count of criminal sexual act. “This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors who have come forward,” said Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. More than 80 women, including the actresses Rose McGowan and Annabella Sciorra, have accused Weinstein in the last nine months of sexually harassing or assaulting them, often in hotel rooms or his offices, usually after luring them with a promise of a business meeting about films. Still, prosecutors have faced obstacles finding victims whose allegations were within the statute of limitations and who were also willing to testify in a highly publicized trial. Prosecutors declined to give details about the encounter that was the basis for the new charges. The indictment said Weinstein “engaged in oral sexual conduct by forcible compulsion” on July 10, 2006. See also: Disgraced Movie Mogul Weinstein Might Go Free: Here’s Why