Danny Masterson: 'That '70s Show' star found guilty of raping 2 women, faces up to 30 years in prison
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Danny Masterson, known for his role in the hit show ‘That ‘70s Show’, was found guilty on two of three counts of rape at his second trial in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday, May 31. The jury, consisting of seven women and five men, discussed various aspects of the case for seven days over the course of two weeks before reaching a verdict.
According to the Associated Press, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the third count that alleged the actor sexually assaulted a long-time girlfriend. They voted 8-4 in favor of conviction. Without any guesses, the aforementioned verdict had a profound impact on Masterson’s family, especially his wife Bijou Phillips. She gasped audibly when the verdict was announced and cried as her husband was taken into custody.
Danny Masterson faced accusations of sexually assaulting three women at his Hollywood Hills residence from 2001 to 2003. The case has been ongoing since 2017 and the victims reported the incidents to the Church of Scientology at the time but were told not to go to the police. All three alleged victims were members of the Church of Scientology at the time of the alleged incidents.
After being found guilty on two of three rape charges, Masterson was led from the courtroom in handcuffs. The 47-year-old actor may serve up to 30 years in prison and is currently being held without bail until his sentencing, which is yet to be determined. Masterson and his lawyers have been instructed to return to court on Friday, August 4 for a hearing.
One of the women who accused Masterson of sexually assaulting her in 2003, noted that she “experienced a complex array of emotions” after the verdict was read out in the courtroom. She said, “I am experiencing am experiencing a complex array of emotions — relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness — knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his criminal behavior.”
The other victim, a former girlfriend of Masterson’s, expressed her emotions on the verdict and noted that she has mixed feelings about it. She said, “While I’m encouraged that Danny Masterson will face some criminal punishment. I am devastated that he has dodged criminal accountability for his heinous conduct against me.”
All three women alleged that Masterson drugged them before violently raping them.
As soon as the hearing ended, DA George Gascon expressed his gratitude toward the three women who showed courage and came forward to share their horrifying stories. He added, “We want to express our gratitude to the three women who came forward and bravely shared their experiences. While we are disappointed that the jury did not convict on all counts, we respect their decision. The verdicts handed down by the jury in this case were undoubtedly a difficult one to reach and we thank the jurors for their service.”
As of writing this piece, no comments have been made on the piece by Masterson or his lawyers. Masterson has always been denying all the allegations against him and argued that the acts were consensual. These allegations surfaced when the actor was getting a lot of work and garnered a lot of recognition with his role in ‘That ‘70s Show’. He tried to make a comeback in 2016 with the Netflix comedy ‘The Ranch’, but was thrown out of the show when it was revealed that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) had opened an investigation.