Danny Masterson was convicted on two counts of forcible rape after his second trial on fees that he sexually assaulted a number of girls within the early 2000s.
The jury reached a choice on Wednesday, Could 31, after deliberating for greater than six days. Jurors discovered Masterson, 47, responsible of raping two girls in 2003, however they may not attain a verdict for a November 2001 allegation involving an ex-girlfriend. The That ’70s Present alum might face a jail sentence of 30 years to life for the 2 fees. His subsequent listening to is about for August 4.
“We need to specific our gratitude to the three girls who got here ahead and bravely shared their experiences. Their braveness and power have been an inspiration to us all,” Los Angeles County District Lawyer George Gascón stated in an announcement on Wednesday. “Whereas we’re upset that the jury didn’t convict on all counts, we respect their resolution. The verdicts handed down by the jury on this case had been undoubtedly a troublesome one to succeed in and we thank the jurors for his or her service.”
Gascón continued: “We additionally acknowledge that stopping sexual assault is crucial and we are going to proceed to teach the general public on the significance of consent, wholesome relationships and bystander intervention. We consider that by working collectively, we are able to create a safer and extra simply society for all.”
Masterson’s retrial started in April after a decide declared the primary iteration a mistrial in November 2022.
“Whereas we’re upset with the result on this trial, we thank the jurors for his or her service,” a spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Lawyer’s Workplace stated in an announcement to Us Weekly on the time of the mistrial. “We additionally need to give our heartfelt appreciation to the victims for bravely stepping ahead and recounting their harrowing experiences. We are also grateful for the arduous work of the prosecution group and we are going to now take into account our subsequent steps because it pertains to prosecuting this case.”
The New York native was initially accused of sexual assault in March 2017 when a number of girls got here ahead alleging that the Ranch alum had raped them within the early 2000s. He was charged with three counts of rape in June 2020. Shortly after his arrest, he was launched on a $3.3 million bail.
Masterson — who shares daughter Fianna, 9, with spouse Bijou Phillips — has repeatedly denied the allegations.
“From day one, I’ve denied the outrageous allegations towards me. Regulation enforcement investigated these claims greater than 15 years in the past and decided them to be with out benefit,” he instructed Us in a December 2017 assertion, including that he appeared ahead to “clearing my title as soon as and for all.”
When Masterson’s retrial kicked off in April, Leah Remini was in courtroom for the opening statements.
“I’m attending opening arguments within the rape trial of superstar Scientologist Danny Masterson at this time,” the King of Queens alum, 52, wrote by way of Twitter on the time. “The ladies who Danny raped deserve justice for what they’ve been put by way of, not solely by Danny however by Scientology which has tried to destroy them for reporting their rapes.”
Remini left the Church of Scientology in 2013 after rising up as a member of the group. She has been an outspoken critic of the non secular motion since her exit.
After Masterson was charged with three counts of rape in June 2020, Remini celebrated the information by way of Twitter.
“Lastly, victims are being heard in relation to Scientology! Reward the lord! That is just the start Scientology, your days of getting away with it’s coming to an finish! #justice #scientologytheaftermath,” she wrote on the time.
In August 2019, 4 of Masterson’s accusers filed a lawsuit towards him, the Church of Scientology and the group’s chief, David Miscavige.
The go well with alleged that the Face/Off actor and the church engaged in stalking, bodily invasion of privateness and conspiracy to impede justice after the ladies reported their allegations towards Masterson to the Los Angeles Police Division in 2016 and 2017.
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“That is past ridiculous,” Masterson stated in an announcement to Us by way of his legal professional on the time. “I’m not going to combat my ex-girlfriend within the media like she’s been baiting me to do for greater than two years. I’ll beat her in courtroom— and look ahead to it as a result of the general public will lastly be capable of be taught the reality and see how I’ve been railroaded by this girl. And as soon as her lawsuit is thrown out, I intend to sue her, and the others who jumped on the bandwagon, for the harm they brought about me and my household.”