On February 24, 2020, the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted on two of five charges of rape and two more charges of sexual assault. This conviction succeeded three decades of alleged stories about sexual assault/abuse committed by Weinstein. 90 women were found to have accused Weinstein of sexual abuse. 

Weinstein was considered one of the most influential producers in Hollywood before he was found guilty, however, his crimes affected dozens of women. According to the New York Times, Weinstein faces a possible sentence of five to 29 years. After the jury had announced that the trial had reached a verdict and read the verdict out loud, Weinstein kept saying that he was innocent several times to his team of lawyers. It was announced that he would be sent straight to jail before his official sentencing. “Sexual assault is a horrible crime that mentally scar victims for life,” Janie Latimer, an eighth grader at McAuliffe Middle School, elaborates. 

Weinstein was said to have been transported into an ambulance to Rikers Island, a local prison. It was made known that he had problems of high blood pressure and chest pain and had suffered a concussion while behind bars due to not having his walker. His uphill battle in prison may be karma for the sexual assault that he committed. “If there’s evidence, arrest them, but for a good amount of time, not some sympathy or pity thing like ‘Oh, he won’t survive in prison.’ Well, if he can’t survive then he shouldn’t do something to get sent there,” Summer Baars, a McAuliffe eighth grader, adds. 

On March 11, 2020, the producer was sentenced to 23 years in prison. He is reported to have been remorseful for his actions, but utterly confused as well. After several women testified against him, this sparked the #MeToo movement which is focused on fighting against sexual harassment and sexual assault. It seems Weinstein has fallen from grace; to have formerly been a prominent producer to being sentenced to prison.