A jury found “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson guilty of two of three counts of rape Wednesday in a new trial in Los Angeles in which the Church of Scientology played a central role.
The jury of seven women and five men reached the verdict after deliberating seven days over two weeks. They were unable to reach a verdict on the third charge, which alleged that Masterson had raped a longtime girlfriend. He voted 8-4 in favor of conviction.
Masterson was led from the courtroom in handcuffs. The 47-year-old actor could face up to 30 years in jail.
His wife, actress, and model Bijou Phillips, broke down in tears as he was being taken away. Other relatives and friends sat with stony faces.
“I am experiencing a complex range of emotions: relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness, knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face responsibility for his criminal behavior,” said one of the women. whom Masterson had convicted of rape in his home. In 2003, he said in a statement.
Prosecutors, who retried Masterson for a mistrial in December after a deadlocked jury, said he forcibly raped three women, including a longtime girlfriend, at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003. He can rape her. , They said she used her prominence in the church, where three women were also members at the time, to avoid consequences for decades.
Masterson did not testify and his attorneys did not call witnesses. The defense argued that the acts were consensual and sought to discredit the women’s stories by highlighting changes and inconsistencies over time, which it said showed signs of coordination among them. (New Trial Finds Actor Danny Masterson Guilty Of 2 Out Of 3 Rape Counts)
Defense attorney Philip Cohen followed his instructions in his closing argument, telling the jury, “If they decide that a witness has knowingly lied about something in this case,” they should believe anything the witness says. Should consider not doing it.
The Church of Scientology played a role in the trial.
The Church of Scientology played an important role in the first trial but was arguably even more important in the second. Judge Charlene F. Olmedo allowed expert testimony on church policy from a former Scientology leadership official who has become a prominent opponent.
Tensions rose in the courtroom between current and former Scientologists, even seeping into testimony, with the accused saying on the witness stand that they felt intimidated by some members of the courtroom.
Actress Leah Remini, a former member who has become the church’s highest-profile critic, sometimes sits in the courtroom and puts her arm around one of the accused to comfort him during closing arguments.
Ale. Founded in 1953 by Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology has many members who work in Hollywood. The judge set limits on how much prosecutors could speak about the church, primarily allowing them to explain why it took so long for the women to go to authorities.
The women testified that when they reported Masterson to church officials, they were told that they had not been raped, that they were subject to self-morality programs, and were warned to report this to the police. Do not report such high-ranking members.
“She was raped, she was punished for it and she was retaliated against,” Assistant District Attorney Reinhold Mueller said in concluding arguments to the jury. “Scientology told them there is no justice for them. You have an opportunity to show them that there is justice.”
The church denied having any policy that prohibited members from approaching secular authorities.
The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted.
The Testimony, In This Case, Was Graphic And Emotional.
Two women who knew Masterson from church social circles said he gave them a drink and then passed out and violently raped them in 2003.
The third, Masterson’s then-girlfriend of five years, said he woke up to find her raping him and pulled her hair to stop him. (New Trial Finds Actor Danny Masterson Guilty Of 2 Out Of 3 Rape Counts)
The drug issue also played an important role in the new trial. At first, Olmedo allowed prosecutors and prosecutors to describe only his disorientation and indicate that he was on drugs. The second time, he was allowed to argue directly, and the prosecution tried to make it a major factor, to no avail.
“The defendant takes drugs to gain control over his victims,” Assistant District Attorney Ariel Anson said in closing remarks. “What does he do for
