New York: With Harvey Weinstein facing sentencing this week, his lawyers have argued that the disgraced movie mogul deserves mercy in his New York City rape case because he's already suffered a historic fall from grace and is dealing with serious health issues.
Weinstein's defense team on Monday asked a judge in court papers to consider a sentence of only five years, far short of the potential 29-year maximum term allowed by law.
The papers argue Weinstein should get credit for supporting various charitable causes during his rise to one of Hollywood's most powerful producers.
On the health front, the 67-year-old Weinstein is dealing with heart problems, ramifications of unsuccessful back surgery stemming from a car crash last summer and a condition that requires shots in his eyes so he does not go blind, his lawyers have said.
The filing came in advance of Weinstein's sentencing on Wednesday for his conviction last month on one count of criminal sex act for forcibly performing oral sex on a woman in 2006 and one count of third-degree rape for a 2013 attack on another woman.
His lawyers had contended at trial that any sexual contact was consensual.
On the criminal sex act count, Weinstein faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 25 years in prison, while the third-degree rape count carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison. The judge could have the sentences run concurrently.
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