Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein pleaded not guilty to new charges at a court appearance in Manhattan on Monday — charges that could lead to Weinstein spending the rest of his life in prison.

Weinstein's new charges include two counts of predatory sexual assault, which stem from an alleged 2006 incident.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison if Weinstein is convicted. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said they are "some of the most serious sexual offenses" that exist under state law.

The other charge is one count of a criminal sexual act.

Weinstein's attorney, Ben Brafman, said the charges are baseless.

"The more I investigate this case, the more I realize that the charges that are currently in the indictment are very defensible indeed, and that any suggestion that Mr. Weinstein raped anyone, based on the overwhelming evidence that I have in my possession already, is a ludicrous suggestion, and Mr. Weinstein has, of course, also vigorously denied that suggestion," Brafman said.

A judge released Weinstein on the same $1 million bail he posted at his first arraignment involving two other accusers and was allowed to return to his Westport, Connecticut home. He's due back in court on Sept. 20.

Brafman said he expects more criminal charges to be filed later, but didn't elaborate.

Weinstein previously forfeited his passport and is fitted with an electronic monitoring bracelet. He's also been ordered to stay away from the three women.

Prosecutors, saying the new charges were "significantly more serious," had sought to have Weinstein forced to move to Manhattan and placed on house arrest.

Weinstein, 66, hobbled into the courtroom with his hands cuffed behind his back. He was uncuffed for the proceeding and didn't say much other than entering his plea.

Attorney Gloria Allred, who is representing the woman whose allegations led to the new charges, said her client will testify if the case goes to trial. She said she doubted Weinstein would do the same.

"Are you really willing to have your client face the jury?" Allred said outside the courthouse. "I doubt that you will take that risk, Mr. Brafman."

Allred and prosecutors wouldn't name the woman.

Brafman identified her in court as a former film production assistant who went public last October with allegations that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her in 2006 at his Manhattan apartment.

The Associated Press and Spectrum News generally do not identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they consent to being identified publicly. Allred said her client is "not going to be giving any interviews and she'd like to maintain her privacy."

More than 75 women have accused Weinstein of wrongdoing as allegations detailed in Pulitzer Prize-winning stories last October in The New York Times and The New Yorker magazine swelled into the #MeToo movement.

Only three complaints have led to criminal charges so far. In addition to the assault claim that brought him to court Monday, Weinstein is accused of raping an unidentified woman in a hotel room in 2013 and forcing a former actress, Lucia Evans, to perform oral sex at his office in 2004. Evans was one of the first women to accuse Weinstein publicly last fall.

Weinstein, who produced movies including "Pulp Fiction" and "Shakespeare in Love," has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex, with Brafman challenging the credibility of his accusers and the reporting that led to his downfall.

"If we allow Pulitzer-driven reporters to decide this case, then it could be hopeless," Brafman said. "God help all of us if that's how the criminal justice system is allowed to work."

Notably, according to his lawyer, Weinstein plans to continue to work on future movies.


Main story image above courtesy AP Photo/Richard Drew.