Harvey Weinstein threatened with 25 years in prisons

Harvey Weinstein could face five to 25 years in prison on sexual assault charges if the latest abuse allegations are tried in criminal court, the Guardian reports, citing legal experts.

The embattled Hollywood producer – who has been accused of sexual harassment and rape by women across the globe over the last week – could be charged in New York state for a 2004 assault allegation detailed in a New Yorker investigation published Tuesday.

Legal experts and law enforcement sources said that the claims described by Lucia Evans, a former aspiring actor, rise to the level of a felony charge under New York laws. However, because a criminal conviction could be difficult to achieve, prosecutors may be reluctant to bring a case in the first place.

Questions about the potential legal consequences facing the 65-year-old film producer have swirled since the New York Times published a piece last Thursday alleging that Weinstein sexually harassed women and made unwanted advances for nearly three decades. The scandal dramatically expanded this week when the reporter Ronan Farrow published detailed allegations of rape and assault and released an undercover police recording of Weinstein appearing to confess to assault.

Weinstein and his lawyers said he denied many of the allegations in the New York Times and have threatened to sue the newspaper. His spokesperson said he “unequivocally denied” claims of non-consensual sex in the New Yorker piece, and Weinstein has apologized for causing “pain”, saying he is now in counseling.

The fallout has already been extraordinary. Weinstein was fired from his company and high-profile actors and directors who have worked closely with the producer have strongly condemned him and expressed support for his growing list of accusers, which includes Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cara Delevingne.