Danny Masterson, the former star of the hit TV show ‘That ’70s Show’, is facing the possibility of spending 30 years to life in prison. Masterson, now 47 years old, was found guilty of two counts of rape by a jury on May 31. The attacks occurred in Masterson’s Hollywood home back in 2003, at the peak of his fame.
The sentencing for Masterson is set to take place on Thursday, with Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo presiding over the case. Prior to the sentencing, the defense team has made a motion for a new trial, although it is expected to be rejected by the judge. The victims will also have the opportunity to share their impact statements.
A jury consisting of seven women and five men deliberated for seven days before reaching a verdict. Masterson was found guilty on two counts of rape, but a unanimous verdict could not be reached on a third count, which involved an allegation of him raping a longtime girlfriend.
These convictions come after a mistrial was declared in a previous trial in December. Prosecutors argued that Masterson had used his prominent position within the Church of Scientology, where the victims were also members, to avoid facing consequences for his actions.
The women testified that they had initially hesitated to go to the police due to the influence of the church. They claimed that after reporting the incidents to Scientology officials, they were told they hadn’t been raped and were subjected to their own ethics programs. The church, however, denies any involvement and states that the testimony during the trial was uniformly false.
During the trial, Masterson did not take the stand, and his defense team called no witnesses. They argued that the sexual acts were consensual and attempted to discredit the women’s testimonies by pointing out changes and inconsistencies. They believed these signaled coordination between the accusers.
The testimony of the women who led to Masterson’s conviction stated that they were given drinks by the actor in 2003, which caused them to feel woozy or pass out before being violently raped. The issue of drugging was allowed to be mentioned in the second trial by Judge Olmedo, despite no charges being filed specifically related to drugging. The defense plans to appeal the conviction and may raise this issue.
Danny Masterson rose to fame for his role in the popular sitcom ‘That ’70s Show’, alongside actors such as Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Topher Grace. He later appeared on the Netflix series ‘The Ranch’, but his character was written off after news broke of the LAPD investigation.
While Masterson’s conviction comes during the #MeToo era, following the conviction of Harvey Weinstein, it represents a significant success for Los Angeles prosecutors. The outcome of this case highlights the major consequences faced by individuals in the entertainment industry for their actions.
In conclusion, former ‘That ’70s Show’ star Danny Masterson faces a potential prison sentence of 30 years to life after being found guilty of two counts of rape. The sentencing is expected to occur on Thursday, and Masterson’s defense team’s motion for a new trial is likely to be rejected. This case sheds light on the power dynamics within the Church of Scientology and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their fame or influential positions.
