Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 15 years in prison in New York following his conviction for sexually assaulting his former assistant, Miriam Haley. The jury found Weinstein guilty last year, reaffirming a verdict initially delivered in 2020 but later overturned by New York’s highest court due to concerns over the fairness of his first trial.

The case centers on an assault that took place in 2013, when Weinstein, a once-prominent film producer, was accused of forcing himself on Haley. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Curtis Faber remarked that Weinstein had “taken what you wanted by force” and criticized him for never accepting responsibility for his actions.

Haley described the assault as having a profoundly damaging impact on her life and sense of security, stating it may never fully heal. The legal proceedings against Weinstein have been closely followed as part of a broader reckoning over sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry.

Weinstein’s initial conviction in 2020 marked a significant moment in the #MeToo movement, but the appeal court’s decision to overturn that verdict underscored challenges in handling high-profile cases. The retrial ultimately upheld the original charges, resulting in the 15-year prison sentence handed down last week.

The sentencing represents one of the lengthier prison terms handed to a prominent individual for sexual assault in recent years and underscores ongoing societal and judicial efforts to address abuse of power. Weinstein has also faced separate legal actions related to allegations from multiple women in different jurisdictions.