Actor Danny Masterson found guilty of 2 of 3 counts of rape in retrial

Danny Masterson, the actor known for his role in “That ’70s Show,” has been found guilty of two out of three counts of rape in a retrial held in Los Angeles. The trial gained significant attention as the Church of Scientology played a central role in the proceedings.

The jury, consisting of seven women and five men, reached their verdict after seven days of deliberation spread over two weeks. They were unable to reach a verdict on the third count, which alleged that Masterson raped a longtime girlfriend. The jury had voted 8-4 in favor of conviction on that count.

Following the announcement of the verdict, Masterson, now 47 years old, was led away from the courtroom in handcuffs. His wife, Bijou Phillips, who is also an actor and model, wept as he was taken into custody, while other family and friends remained expressionless.

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One of the women whom Masterson was convicted of raping in 2003 at his home provided a statement expressing a mix of emotions, including relief, exhaustion, strength, and sadness. She stated her belief that Masterson would finally face accountability for his criminal behavior.

The prosecution had accused Masterson of forcibly raping three women, including a longtime girlfriend, between 2001 and 2003 at his Hollywood Hills residence. They asserted that Masterson had drugged the women’s drinks to facilitate the sexual assaults. The prosecution also highlighted the defendant’s affiliation with the Church of Scientology, where all three women were members at the time, and claimed that Masterson had used his status within the church to evade consequences for his actions over the course of several decades.

During the trial, Masterson chose not to testify, and his defense team did not call any witnesses. They argued that the sexual encounters were consensual and attempted to undermine the credibility of the women by pointing out inconsistencies and changes in their testimonies, suggesting possible coordination between them.

The Church of Scientology played a significant role in both the first and second trials. In the retrial, Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo allowed expert testimony on church policies from a former Scientology official who has become a prominent critic of the organization. Tensions ran high in the courtroom, with current and former Scientologists present, and some of the accusers testified feeling intimidated by certain members of the church.

Leah Remini, a former Scientologist and prominent critic of the church, attended parts of the trial and provided support to one of the accusers during closing arguments. Founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1953, the Church of Scientology has a substantial number of members in the entertainment industry. The judge limited discussions about the church but allowed some explanations regarding the delayed reporting of the incidents to law enforcement.

The women who testified stated that when they reported the rapes to church officials, they were met with denial, subjected to ethics programs themselves, and discouraged from involving secular authorities. The prosecution emphasized that the victims had been raped, punished, and retaliated against, and urged the jury to demonstrate that justice could prevail.

The Church of Scientology vehemently denied having any policy that discouraged members from reporting crimes to secular authorities.

The testimonies presented during the trial were graphic and emotionally charged. Two women, who knew Masterson through their involvement with the church, recounted incidents in 2003 where they were given drinks and subsequently became disoriented or unconscious before being violently raped by the defendant.

The third woman, who had been Masterson’s girlfriend for five years, described waking up to find him raping her and having to physically intervene to stop him.

The issue of drugging played a significant role in the retrial. In the first trial, the judge only allowed the prosecution and accusers to describe their disorientation and imply drugging. However, in the retrial, the prosecution directly argued the involvement of drugging, but this line of argument did not result in a conviction.

Masterson was not charged with drugging offenses, and there was no toxicology evidence to support the claim. His defense team requested a mistrial due to the inclusion of this issue, but the motion was denied. It is likely that the issue will play a significant role in any potential appeal.

The charges against Masterson date back to a period when he was at the height of his fame, starring in “That ’70s Show” from 1998 to 2006. The show catapulted several actors, including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Topher Grace, to stardom. Masterson also reunited with Kutcher in the 2016 Netflix comedy series “The Ranch,” but his involvement ended when an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department was disclosed in December 2017.

Who is Danny Masterson?

Danny Masterson is an American actor born in 1976. He is best known for his role as Steven Hyde in the television series “That ’70s Show” (1998-2006). Masterson has also been involved in various other projects throughout his acting career, including his role as Colt Bennett in the Netflix series “The Ranch”. Prior to his acting career, Masterson was also a renowned DJ.

What famous movies does Danny Masterson play?

Danny Masterson đã đóng vai chính trong các bộ phim và series truyền hình nổi tiếng sau:

1- “That ’70s Show” (1998-2006): Trong vai Steven Hyde, Masterson đã thu hút sự chú ý và đạt được thành công lớn trong vai diễn này trong suốt 8 mùa phim.

2- “The Ranch” (2016-2020): Masterson hợp tác với Ashton Kutcher trong series truyền hình này, đóng vai Colt Bennett trong 4 mùa.

Ngoài ra, Masterson cũng đã xuất hiện trong các bộ phim và series khác như “Dracula 2000” (2000), “Yes Man” (2008), “Men at Work” (2012-2014), và “The Bridge to Nowhere” (2009).

Danny Masterson tied the knot with actress and model Bijou Phillips in 2011. However, detailed information about their current marital status is not widely disclosed.