Danny Masterson's Sexual Assault Allegations and Case: What to Know | 6Z7W023 | 2024-02-21 23:08:01
Danny Masterson made headlines in 2017 when he was first accused of sexual assault. He has since pleaded not guilty after being charged in June 2020 with allegedly raping three women.
Four ladies claimed in March 2017 that Masterson sexually assaulted them in the early 2000s. A fifth lady came forward in December 2017, claiming that while she was courting the actor, he "repeatedly raped" her.
Masterson maintained his innocence and pleaded not responsible in January 2021 to 3 counts of rape. His first trial started in fall 2022, which led to a mistrial. Masterson went back on trial in spring 2023 when he was convicted of two counts of rape.
The actor was sentenced in September 2023 to 30 years in prison. That same month, his wife Bijou Phillips filed for divorce.
Scroll down for more details on Masterson's sexual assault case, trial and his civil lawsuit:
This is an ongoing article that was initially revealed in January 2022 and last up to date in February 2024.
The Los Angeles Police Division confirmed to Us in March 2017 that they have been investigating claims that Masterson sexually assaulted multiple ladies in the early 2000s. No expenses had been filed on the time. The LAPD's investigation was prompted by multiple police stories and journalist Tony Ortega's report of three ladies's alleged accounts of rape, sodomy or sexual assault, which he posted on his blog, The Underground Bunker. (4 ladies have been on the document at the time, claiming they have been assaulted by the actor.) In certainly one of Ortega's posts, he claimed that one victim approached Leah Remini, who was a Scientologist like Masterson for decades, and advised her what allegedly occurred. The lady was then advised to file a police report by Remini, based on Ortega. "I met with the LAPD. I met with Detective Reyes [of the robbery-homicide division, who was assigned the case], and I advised her these victims need to be heard," Remini advised Ortega on the time. "I asked her to do the proper thing by these women, and I advised her that the world is watching." The Dracula 2000 actor's rep issued a press release denying all claims of sexual assault that very same month. "We're conscious of [the victim]'s 16-year-old allegations. It was only after [the victim] was in touch with Leah Remini that she made allegations of sexual assault by Mr. Masterson," the rep stated on the time. "The alleged incident occurred in the midst of their six-year relationship, after which she continued to be his longtime girlfriend." Kcr/Shutterstock
"Because of ongoing discussions, Netflix and the producers have written Danny Masterson out of The Ranch," a spokesperson for the streaming company advised Us in a press release in December 2017. "[Monday] was his final day on the present, and manufacturing will resume in early 2018 without him." Masterson played Jameson "Rooster" Bennett on the Netflix collection for three seasons alongside former That '70s Present costar Ashton Kutcher before he was fired within the wake of his sexual assault allegations. Greg Gayne/Netflix/Kobal/Shutterstock
Masterson reacted to being ousted from The Ranch in December 2017, telling Us in a press release, "I am clearly very dissatisfied in Netflix's choice to put in writing my character off of The Ranch." He denied the "outrageous allegations" towards him at the time, claiming, "Regulation enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years in the past and determined them to be without benefit. I have never been charged with a criminal offense, not to mention convicted of one." The actor stated he seemed "forward to clearing my identify once and for all," before thanking his former castmates and the show's crew for the time they spent collectively. "I want them nothing but success. I'm also so thankful to the followers that have supported me and proceed to take action," he added. Tyler Golden/Netflix/Kobal/Shutterstock
Masterson's ex-girlfriend Bobette Riales got here forward with allegations of sexual misconduct in December 2017, bringing the rely as much as five ladies claiming the Beethoven's 2nd actor allegedly assaulted them within the early 2000s. "I stayed quiet lengthy sufficient. Danny Masterson repeatedly raped me," Riales claimed by way of Twitter at the time. "All I search is justice and to stop this from ever occurring to anybody else because it has for some time. My fact will probably be heard." Riales additionally confirmed Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who's certainly one of Masterson's exes and one other accuser, help, tweeting, "I applaud her power as properly #metoo #sisters." Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
A source on the Los Angeles District Lawyer's workplace solely advised Us in February 2018 that despite the "heinous" sexual misconduct claims towards Masterson, the DA's office was not ready to press expenses. "Los Angeles District Lawyer Jackie Lacey has asked the deputy district lawyer Reinhold Mueller, dealing with the Danny Masterson rape investigation, for additional investigation after the case was formally introduced to her virtually three months ago," the source defined. "This case is being taken very significantly and does have prime precedence inside the sex crimes division of the workplace. Not because of Mr. Masterson's superstar standing, but due to the heinous allegations by the alleged victims." The insider added: "This can be a high-profile case, and it needs to be hermetic before any determination is made about charging Danny Masterson." Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Four of the five ladies who accused Masterson of sexual assault filed a lawsuit towards him, the Church of Scientology and the church's leader, David Miscavige, in August 2019. His exes, Bixler and Riales, have been reportedly identified within the lawsuit. The other two ladies have been listed as Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2. The accusers claimed that Masterson and the church engaged in stalking, bodily invasion of privateness and conspiracy to impede justice after the women reported their allegations towards the New York native to the Los Angeles Police Department in 2016 and 2017. Masterson denied the allegations in a press release to Us on the time, saying, "This is beyond ridiculous. I'm not going to battle my ex-girlfriend in the media like she's been baiting me to do for greater than two years. I will beat her in courtroom— and look ahead to it because the general public will lastly be capable of study the reality and see how I've been railroaded by this lady." A litigation lawyer for the Church of Scientology additionally reacted to the lawsuit, telling Us in a press release, "From every little thing we now have read in the press, this baseless lawsuit will go nowhere as a result of the claims are ludicrous and a sham. It's a dishonest and hallucinatory publicity stunt." Invision/AP/Shutterstock
Masterson was charged with three counts of rape by pressure or worry, LA DA Jackie Lacey announced in June 2020, three years after he was first accused of sexual assault. The actor was arrested on June 17 and released later that day on $three.three million bail. His arraignment hearing was set for September of that yr and will resist 45 years to life in a state prison if convicted. The District Lawyer's Office declined to file fees for 2 of the 5 alleged assaults resulting from inadequate proof and statute of limitations. Masterson was, nevertheless, accused of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old lady between January and December 2001, a 28-year-old lady in April 2003 and a 23-year-old lady between October and December 2003 in his residence. "Mr. Masterson is innocent, and we're assured that he will probably be exonerated when all of the evidence lastly comes to mild and witnesses have the opportunity to testify," his legal protection lawyer stated in a press release to Us after he was charged. Shutterstock
In June 2020, a supply solely advised Us that Masterson had a "strong" protection ready after being charged with three counts of rape. "It ought to be pointed out the alleged victims are at present suing Danny for vital monetary damages," the insider stated. "Danny won't be accepting a plea deal, regardless of strain he will get to take it. Interval." Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Us confirmed in January 2021 that Masterson pleaded not guilty to all the rape expenses towards him. His lawyer, Tom Mesereau, entered a plea of not responsible on all costs on his behalf during a courtroom hearing. "We would like a fair trial and an unbiased jury. We would like a jury that isn't contaminated by unfavorable media coverage, and within the interest of fairness," Mesereau stated on the time. "We're requesting that there be no media presence." The prosecutor, nevertheless, did not agree with Masterson's lawyer's request and set a preliminary listening to for March of that yr. LUCY NICHOLSON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
In Might 2021, a decide ordered Masterson to stand trial on the rape costs made towards him. All three ladies testified on the preliminary listening to, the place the decide dominated that prosecutors had sufficient proof for the case to go to trial. Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Amid his legal issues, the Chicago eight actor and his wife, Bijou Phillips, listed their Los Angeles five-bedroom residence in August 2021 for $6.9 million. The mansion bought four months later for $6.2 million, in line with Dust. (The pair are mother and father of daughter Fianna, born in 2014.) Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
A decide rejected Masterson's request for quite a lot of subpoenas in August 2021 after his authorized staff requested for info associated to Remini's anti-Scientologist TV present, in addition to something about church chief David Miscavige and his spouse, Shelly. His lawyer claimed the knowledge would help them investigate the alleged "inconsistences" with accusing witness' accounts at trial. The decide, nevertheless, referred to as the request an "overt try and acquire privileged info in LAPD information" and denied entry to the information. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
An appeals courtroom ruled in January 2022 that Masterson's accusers should not have to take their case to a spiritual arbitration panel run by the Church of Scientology after claiming in a civil go well with that Masterson and Miscavige stalked and harassed them. "Scientology's written arbitration agreements will not be enforceable towards members who have left the faith, with respect to claims for subsequent non-religious, tortious acts," the California Courtroom of Appel dominated. "To carry in any other case would bind members irrevocably to a faith they've the constitutional proper to go away." Amanda Schwab/Starpix/Shutterstock
In February 2022, the actor sought to have the legal rape fees dismissed. He was unsuccessful, and his trial is about for August 2022. LUCY NICHOLSON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Opening statements in the trial started in October 2022. Though the defense sought to have any point out of Scientology barred from the proceedings throughout a pre-trial hearing, the request was denied. "Attempt as Masterson's workforce may to keep that evidence out, I feel it's inevitable that it'll turn out to be an element within the trial, and the prosecution will probably use this to their profit to elucidate the extremely lengthy delay in reporting these allegations to regulation enforcement," Joshua Ritter, a defense lawyer and former Los Angeles County prosecutor, stated in a press release to Us. In accordance with Deadline, the first of Masterson's three accusers — whose names will not be public — testified on October 19. Jane Doe No. 1 alleged that the actor forcibly raped her in 2002 and stated that she "couldn't breathe" through the assault. "I went unconscious. Once I came to, he was still on prime of me," she claimed. Invision/AP/Shutterstock
In November 2022, the jury was unable to return to a unanimous vote on the three fees Masterson faced causing the decide to declare it a mistrial. The case might be retried in April 2023. "Whereas we are dissatisfied with the result in this trial, we thank the jurors for their service," a spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Lawyer's Office stated in a press release to Us at the time. "We additionally need to give our heartfelt appreciation to the victims for bravely stepping ahead and recounting their harrowing experiences. We also are thankful for the exhausting work of the prosecution group and we'll now think about our subsequent steps because it relates to prosecuting this case."
After the decide denied a defense request to dismiss the case in January 2023, a date of April 17 was set for jury selection for the second trial. "It appears there are various other witnesses the Individuals might choose to call or totally different arguments the Individuals might choose to make," Decide Charlaine Olmedo stated on the time. "A unique end result at a retrial is no less than a risk." Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Whereas Laura Prepon, Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher and Wilmer Valderrama all reprised their roles in Netflix's sequel collection, Masterson's That '70s Present character, Hyde, is just not part of That '90s Present. Hyde also isn't included in a flashback sequence of the OG characters within the Forman's infamous basement and his absence isn't addressed. Moviestore/Shutterstock
News broke in Might 2023 that Masterson was found guilty of raping two ladies in 2003, however the jury could not reach a verdict for a November 2001 allegation involving an ex-girlfriend. He is set to return to courtroom on August 4, 2023. With the 2 costs, he might face a jail sentence of 30 years to life. LUCY NICHOLSON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in jail on September 7, 2023, after he was convicted of two counts of forcible rape throughout his sexual assault retrial.& "Mr. Masterson, you aren't the sufferer right here. Your actions 20 years ago took away one other individual's selection and voice," the decide advised the actor in courtroom. "Your actions 20 years in the past at this time have been felony, and that's why you're right here." Following the trial, Masterson's defense lawyer Shawn Holley introduced they'll attraction in state and federal courtroom outdoors the felony courts, per Deadline. Jason Merritt/Getty Pictures
Masterson's mugshot was released in December 2023, and he began his 30-year jail sentence at North Kern State Prison in Delano, California. Us confirmed in late January 2024 that Masterson was transferred to maximum-security prison Corcoran State Prison in Central California. The well-known jail as soon as housed Charles Manson. Us confirmed in February 2024 that after just some weeks, Masterson was once once more moved. This time, he was relocated to medium-and-minimum-security facility Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo, California. CA DOC/MEGA
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