Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison Wednesday, near the maximum sentence available for the pair of sex crimes for which he was convicted in late February.

"Although this is a first conviction, it is not a first offense," acting New York County Supreme Court Justice James Burke said, explaining that he has seen evidence that Weinstein sexually assaulted "a number of women" beyond the two cases in which he was convicted.

Weinstein's defense attorneys had asked Burke to sentence Weinstein to five years in prison, the lowest option available. Defense attorney Donna Rotunno of Chicago argued that Weinstein, who will turn 68 next week, has medical issues so serious that he might not even survive the minimum sentence.