Actor Danny Masterson, known for his role in “That ’70s Show,” has been convicted on two charges of forcible rape in a retrial of a 2022 lawsuit, with the jury deadlocked on a third charge.
Former ‘That ’70s Show’ Star Danny Masterson Convicted in Rape Trial
- Actor Danny Masterson from “That ’70s Show” has been convicted of two charges of forcible rape in a retrial of a 2022 lawsuit. The jury was deadlocked on the third rape charge.
- The charges against Masterson involved three women who accused him of raping them at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003.
- The jury deliberated for about 6 1/2 days before reaching a verdict.
- Masterson could face a sentence of 30 years to life in prison.
- This was the second trial for Masterson, as the first trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury.
- Prosecutors decided to retry the case, and the judge rejected a defense attempt to have the charges dismissed.
- During the retrial, the prosecutor argued that Masterson drugged and raped the victims, while the defense questioned the credibility of the alleged victims.
- The prosecutor also mentioned that the alleged victims and Masterson were members of the Church of Scientology and claimed that the church retaliated against them.
- Masterson’s lawyer argued that there was no forensic evidence supporting the prosecution’s claims and suggested that the alleged victims had coordinated their stories.
- The Church of Scientology issued a statement denying any policy discouraging reporting of criminal conduct and criticizing the prosecution’s portrayal of the church’s actions.
- Masterson had been free on bail since his arrest in June 2020.
- Netflix had previously fired Masterson from the show “The Ranch” in 2017 following sexual assault allegations.
- The women involved in the criminal case against Masterson and the Church of Scientology have filed a civil suit, accusing them of stalking and harassment following the reporting of their sexual assault allegations.
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