New York prosecutors announced on Monday a third set of criminal charges for sexual assault against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of harassing and abusing dozens of women and actresses, paving the way for the global #MeToo movement.

Prosecutors said a New York grand jury had returned an additional count of criminal sexual act in the first degree and two counts of predatory sexual assault against Weinstein for allegedly forcing a woman into oral sex on July 10, 2006, adding to earlier charges of assault against two other women.

Weinstein, 66, once one of Hollywood's most powerful filmmakers, could be jailed for a maximum of life or a minimum of 10 years if convicted of the latest charges, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said.

Harvey Weinstein turns himself in to the New York Police Department's First Precinct after being served with criminal charges by the Manhattan District Attorney's office in New York City, May 25, 2018. /VCG Photo

Currently out on a 1-million-US-dollar bail after surrendering in May, the fallen powerbroker – whose films, including "Pulp Fiction," "Sex, Lies and Videotape," and "The King's Speech," earned dozens of Oscars – pleaded not guilty last month to allegedly raping one woman at a Manhattan hotel in 2013 and forcing another to perform oral sex on him in 2004.

The father of five has steadfastly denied ever having non-consensual sex.

His lawyer Ben Brafman said his client would enter another not guilty plea.

"Mr Weinstein maintains that all of these allegations are false and he expects to be fully vindicated. Furthermore, to charge Mr Weinstein as a predator when the interactions were each consensual is simply not justified," Brafman said.

 Victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse and their supporters protest during a #MeToo march in Hollywood, California, November 12, 2017. /VCG Photo

The new charges bring to six the number of counts against Weinstein. None of the three women have been named.

"This indictment is the result of the extraordinary courage exhibited by the survivors," Vance said, urging other women who may have experienced "predatory abuse" at the hands of Weinstein to also come forward. 

Weinstein is to be arraigned July 9 on the latest charges.

The former movie mogul’s career imploded in October in a blaze of accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse from dozens of women that triggered a major reckoning about harassment in the workplace and the global #MeToo movement.

More than 70 women – mostly young actresses and women in other aspects of the movie business – have accused the Miramax film studio's co-founder of sexual misconduct in a series of incidents dating back decades.

Italian actress Asia Argento gestures on stage during the closing ceremony of the 71st edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, May 19, 2018. /VCG Photo

Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie are among those who say they were sexually harassed by the producer. Several, including Asia Argento and Rose McGowan, say they were raped.

The accusations gave rise to the #MeToo movement, which has seen hundreds of women publicly accusing powerful men in business, government and entertainment of sexual harassment and abuse.

As the accusations against Weinstein came out, the Weinstein Co's board fired him, the company filed for bankruptcy in March, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled him.

London's Metropolitan Police and Los Angeles prosecutors have also said they are reviewing accusations of sexual assault against Weinstein.