Actor Danny Masterson has been found guilty of two counts of rape following his retrial in Los Angeles Superior Court. The jury deliberated for over seven days, resulting in a hung jury on a third count of rape, with eight jurors voting in favor of conviction. The verdict was met with little reaction from Masterson, although his family members were visibly emotional, with his wife Bijou Phillips shedding tears. Judge Charlaine Olmedo asked everyone to maintain composure during the proceedings. Masterson was immediately taken into custody and will remain in jail until the next hearing on August 4.
If sentenced to the maximum penalty, Masterson faces 30 years to life in state prison. The charges against him date back to 2020, accusing him of forcibly raping three women in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003. Masterson had been out on a $3.3 million bail since his arrest and pleaded not guilty to all charges in January 2021. His attorney, Tom Mesereau, expressed confidence in his client’s innocence, stating that the evidence would prove his exoneration.
During the preliminary hearing in May 2021, all three accusers testified against Masterson, describing the alleged incidents that occurred at his home. Masterson previously stood trial in late 2022, but a mistrial was declared when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. The allegations against Masterson first emerged in 2017 when the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division confirmed an investigation into sexual assault claims. Masterson was subsequently removed from the Netflix series “The Ranch” and severed ties with the United Talent Agency.
The case has garnered significant attention, with Ashton Kutcher, Masterson’s former co-star on “That ’70s Show,” sharing his thoughts. Kutcher stated that he did not have a space to comment as he was not the judge, jury, victim, or accused, but expressed empathy for anyone who felt violated. He also expressed a desire for Masterson to be found innocent if he was not responsible for the assaults.
