Harvey Weinstein Hit With New Sexual Battery Charge In West Coast Case

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Harvey Weinstein beat the coronavirus, but he's got more problems ahead in Los Angeles ... including a new sexual battery charge.

The L.A. County District's Office has hit Weinstein with a new count stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred at a Beverly Hills hotel back in May of 2010.

Law enforcement sources say the alleged victim was interviewed by detectives about the incident in October 2019, but provided detectives with information in March 2020 confirming the incident didn't fall outside the 10-year-statute of limitation.

Weinstein was charged back in January with one felony count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint. The new sexual assault charge will be added to those charges ... and Weinstein faces up to 29 years overall in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors have started the process of temporarily transferring Weinstein -- who is currently serving a 23-year sentence in New York -- to Los Angeles to answer to the charges.

Prosecutors in L.A. also announced today that two cases involving Weinstein were dropped because the victims did not want to testify against the defendant in this case.

Weinstein tested positive for coronavirus last month but has since made a full recovery.

'Human Centipede' Star Dieter Laser Dead at 78

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Dieter Laser -- the German actor best known for playing the evil Dr. Heiter in "The Human Centipede" -- has died.

Laser's death was revealed by his wife, Inge, who says he actually passed in Berlin back on February 29. His cause of death is unknown at this time.

The German star has more than 60 acting credits to his name -- including appearing in the Glenn Close film, "Meeting Venus," in 1991 -- but didn't achieve international fame until starring in the controversial horror film, 'Centipede,' in 2009. He also appeared in 'The Human Centipede III' in 2015.

Tom Six, director of the cult horror series, says of Dieter ... "He was a force of nature, a unique human being and an iconic actor. I’m so damn proud we created pop culture together."

Dieter was an acclaimed film and theater actor in Germany for years, though. He won a German Film Award in 1975 for his leading role in "John Gluckstadt." Almost 35 years later ... he won a Scream Award for Best Villain for playing the deranged 'Human Centipede' surgeon.

Laser's other notable credits over the years include the sci-fi TV series, "Lexx," and the 2003 thriller, "Baltic Storm."

Dieter was 78.

RIP