Disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty to three felony charges last Tuesday (June 5) during his arraignment in a New York Supreme Court. His attorney, Benjamin Brafman, denies that Weinstein did anything wrong.
Weinstein surrendered to authorities on May 25, but is free on a $1 million cash bail. On May 30, a grand jury indicted him on one count of a first-degree criminal sex act and two counts of rape. Weinstein’s next court hearing isn’t until September 20.
“As terrible a crime as rape is, it is equally reprehensible to be falsely accused of rape, and since Mr. Weinstein has denied these allegations, that’s where we are,” Brafman told reporters outside of court Tuesday.
Weinstein’s high profile case almost single-handedly helped spark the now global #MeToo movement of women who’d been afraid of speaking up but are now accusing men of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and sex crimes — sometimes years after the alleged incidents.
The #MeToo movement’s latest high profile triumph was the April 26 conviction of comedian Bill Cosby on three counts of aggravated indecent assault.
The movement has also sparked hundreds of more accusations — some of them false allegations — against men from all walks of life, not all of whom can afford to post $1 million in cash bail.
Punishing guilty people is one thing, but the sudden rush to judgment accompanying the #MeToo movement has led to trampling of long-established legal standards of presumption of innocence and a defendant being “innocent until proven guilty.”
Now, many men face the loss of their jobs, families, homes, and freedom due to sex crime allegations which may not be true. Indeed, many false sex crime claims are routinely reported to police and other law enforcement authorities.
And in today’s climate, the accused suddenly are perceived as guilty, without due process to determine their guilt or innocence.
The Neal Davis Law Firm stands ready to defend individuals who have been falsely accused of a sex crime. We can fight to have charges reduced or even dropped entirely, and with quick action we may be able to avoid having any charges filed in the first place.
But if a case does go to trial, our experienced sex crime defense attorneys for Houston, Harris County, Montgomery County and Fort Bend County are prepared to battle for our clients’ legal rights and their freedom.
Contact our law firm today for a confidential legal review of your case. Your freedom may depend on it.
Spacey Found Not Guilty in Sexual Assault Trial
Actor Kevin Spacey has been found not guilty of all 9 charges against him in a sexual assault trial in London involving 4 men.
