Actor Danny Masterson is found guilty of 2 out of 3 counts of rape in retrial

Danny Masterson, known for his role in "That '70s Show," has been found guilty of two out of three counts of rape in a retrial held in Los Angeles. The Church of Scientology played a significant role in the trial, as Masterson and the accusers were all members at the time of the alleged incidents. The jury, consisting of seven women and five men, deliberated for seven days over a two-week period. They were unable to reach a verdict on the third count, with an 8-4 vote in favor of conviction. Masterson, who faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, was led away in handcuffs while his wife, Bijou Phillips, wept. One of the victims expressed a mix of emotions, including relief and sadness, as she believed her abuser would finally be held accountable.

The prosecution argued that Masterson forcibly raped three women, including a longtime girlfriend, at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003. They claimed that he drugged the victims' drinks to facilitate the assaults and used his influence in the church to avoid consequences. Masterson's defense did not present any witnesses, maintaining that the encounters were consensual. They attempted to undermine the credibility of the accusers by highlighting inconsistencies and changes in their stories over time, suggesting collusion among them.

The Church of Scientology played a notable role in both trials. The judge permitted expert testimony from a former Scientology official, allowing insights into the church's policies. Tensions ran high in the courtroom, with former and current Scientologists present. Accusers mentioned feeling intimidated by some members during their testimonies. Leah Remini, a prominent critic of the church, attended the trial to support the accusers.

Founded by L. Ron Hubbard in 1953, the Church of Scientology has numerous members in the entertainment industry. The judge limited discussions about the church, primarily allowing its mention to explain why the women delayed reporting the incidents to authorities. The accusers testified that when they approached church officials, they were discouraged from reporting the rapes and faced repercussions themselves.

The prosecution presented graphic and emotional testimonies during the trial. Two women stated that Masterson gave them drinks that caused them to feel disoriented or pass out before he violently raped them. The third woman, who was Masterson's girlfriend at the time, recounted waking up to find him raping her and having to physically stop him.

The issue of drugging played a significant role in the retrial. In the previous trial, the judge restricted discussions of drugging to implications and descriptions of disorientation. However, in the retrial, the prosecution was allowed to directly argue the drugging aspect, although it did not significantly impact the outcome. Masterson was not charged with drugging offenses, and there is no toxicology evidence to support the claim. The defense requested a mistrial due to the inclusion of this issue, but the motion was denied.

The charges against Masterson date back to his time of fame during "That '70s Show," where he portrayed Steven Hyde from 1998 to 2006. He later appeared on the Netflix series "The Ranch" but was written off the show after the LAPD investigation was disclosed in December 2017.