Current:Home > StocksThat ’70s Show Alum Danny Masterson Found Guilty of Rape -Prosperity Pathways
That ’70s Show Alum Danny Masterson Found Guilty of Rape
View
Date:2025-04-24 22:25:16
Danny Masterson's rape retrial has reached an end.
The That '70s Show alum was found guilty of two counts of rape by a Los Angeles jury on May 31, according to NBC News. The jury could not reach a verdict on the third count.
Masterson was arrested and charged on three charges of forcible rape in 2020. Prosecutors alleged that Masterson sexually assaulted three women—who they said the actor met through the Church of Scientology—at his Hollywood Hills home in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003.
Masterson, who previously pled not guilty to the charges, now faces up to 30 years behind bars, according to NBC News. He was taken away from the courtroom in handcuffs as his wife Bijou Phillips cried, per the outlet.
The ruling comes six months after a mistrial was declared in Masterson's case, in which the jury was unable to reach unanimous decisions for the three rape charges. His new trial began in April, with his three accusers—identified as Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2 and Jane Doe #3—giving emotional testimonies, according to the Associated Press.
Masterson did not testify during the retrial, according to NBC News.
In the wake of Masterson's guilty verdict, Jane Doe #2 said in a statement outside of courtroom that she was feeling a "complex array of emotions," including "relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness," per NBC News.
She continued, "I am disappointed that he was not convicted on all counts, but take great solace in the fact that he, the Church of Scientology, and others, will have to fully account for their abhorrent actions in civil court."
The women had previously accused the Church of Scientology of pressuring them into not speaking to police about their allegations. The church denied their claims in a May 31 statement obtained by E! News June 1, noting that the organization "has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone—Scientologists or not—to law enforcement."
The statement continued, "There is not a scintilla of evidence supporting the scandalous allegations that the Church harassed the accusers."
Jane Doe #3, whose rape charge the jury did not reach a verdict on, said she felt "devastated" that Masterson "dodged criminal accountability for his heinous conduct against me."
Masterson is being held without bail and is due back in court on Aug. 4 for a hearing, according to the Associated Press. No sentencing date has been set.
E! News reached out to Masterson's lawyers for comment and has not heard back.
For free, confidential help, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org.veryGood! (81)
Related
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Former Tesla worker settles discrimination case, ending appeals over lowered $3.2 million verdict
- Los Angeles home that appears to belong to model and actor Cara Delevingne is destroyed in fire
- Up to 5.8 million kids have long COVID, study says. One mother discusses the heartbreaking search for answers.
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Paul Simon, graceful poet and musical genius, gets his documentary due 'In Restless Dreams'
- Los Angeles home that appears to belong to model and actor Cara Delevingne is destroyed in fire
- Meteorologists say this year’s warm winter provided key ingredient for Midwest killer tornadoes
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- National Association of Realtors to cut commissions to settle lawsuits. Here's the financial impact.
Ranking
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Judge delays Trump’s hush-money criminal trial until mid-April, citing last-minute evidence dump
- California fertility doctor gets 15 years to life for wife’s murder
- Drinking bird science class toy plays integral role in new clean energy idea, study shows
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Hi Hi!
- Could Bitcoin climb to more than $1 million before 2030? Cathie Wood says yes.
- Love Is Blind's Cameron Hamilton Reveals Why He and Lauren Weren't at the Season 6 Reunion
- Is Jason Momoa Irish? 'Aquaman' actor stars in Guinness ad ahead of St. Patrick's Day
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Dr. Dre Shares He Suffered 3 Strokes After 2021 Brain Aneurysm
Boeing 737 Max engine issue will take up to a year to fix, company tells lawmakers
Eva Mendes Thanks Ryan Gosling For “Holding Down the Fort” While She Conquers Milan Fashion Week
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Cara Delevingne's LA home, featured in Architectural Digest tour, consumed by 'heavy' fire
From 4-leaf clovers to some unexpected history, all you need to know about St. Patrick’s Day
New York City won’t offer ‘right to shelter’ to some immigrants in deal with homeless advocates