Danny Masterson's Sexual Assault Allegations and Case: What to Know | 661I684 | 2024-02-19 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 within 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 again 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 jail. That very same month, his wife Bijou Phillips filed for divorce.
Scroll down for extra 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 final updated 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 fees had been filed at the time. The LAPD's investigation was prompted by a number of police studies 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. (Four ladies have been on the document on the time, claiming they have been assaulted by the actor.) In one among 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 suggested to file a police report by Remini, in accordance with Ortega. "I met with the LAPD. I met with Detective Reyes [of the robbery-homicide division, who was assigned the case], and I informed her these victims need to be heard," Remini informed Ortega at the time. "I requested her to do the appropriate factor 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 are 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 informed Us in a press release in December 2017. "[Monday] was his last day on the present, and production will resume in early 2018 without him." Masterson played Jameson "Rooster" Bennett on the Netflix collection for 3 seasons alongside former That '70s Present costar Ashton Kutcher earlier than 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 determination to write down my character off of The Ranch." He denied the "outrageous allegations" towards him on the time, claiming, "Regulation enforcement investigated these claims greater than 15 years ago and decided them to be with out benefit. I have never been charged with a criminal offense, not to mention convicted of 1." The actor stated he appeared "ahead to clearing my identify as soon as and for all," earlier than thanking his former castmates and the show's crew for the time they spent collectively. "I want them nothing however success. I am also so thankful to the fans that have supported me and proceed to do so," he added. Tyler Golden/Netflix/Kobal/Shutterstock
Masterson's ex-girlfriend Bobette Riales got here ahead with allegations of sexual misconduct in December 2017, bringing the rely up to five ladies claiming the Beethoven's 2nd actor allegedly assaulted them in the early 2000s. "I stayed quiet long 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 anyone else as it has for some time. My fact will probably be heard." Riales also confirmed Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who is certainly one of Masterson's exes and another accuser, help, tweeting, "I applaud her power as nicely #metoo #sisters." Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
A source on the Los Angeles District Lawyer's workplace solely informed Us in February 2018 that despite the "heinous" sexual misconduct claims towards Masterson, the DA's office was not ready to press costs. "Los Angeles District Lawyer Jackie Lacey has asked the deputy district lawyer Reinhold Mueller, handling the Danny Masterson rape investigation, for additional investigation after the case was formally introduced to her virtually three months in the past," the source defined. "This case is being taken very significantly and does have prime precedence inside the intercourse crimes division of the workplace. Not due to Mr. Masterson's movie star status, however due to the heinous allegations by the alleged victims." The insider added: "This can be a high-profile case, and it must be hermetic before any determination is made about charging Danny Masterson." Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
4 of the 5 ladies who accused Masterson of sexual assault filed a lawsuit towards him, the Church of Scientology and the church's chief, David Miscavige, in August 2019. His exes, Bixler and Riales, have been reportedly identified within the lawsuit. The opposite two ladies have been listed as Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2. The accusers claimed that Masterson and the church engaged in stalking, physical invasion of privateness and conspiracy to impede justice after the ladies 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 at the time, saying, "That is beyond ridiculous. I'm not going to battle my ex-girlfriend in the media like she's been baiting me to do for more than two years. I will beat her in courtroom— and look ahead to it because the general public will lastly have the ability to study the reality and see how I've been railroaded by this lady." A litigation lawyer for the Church of Scientology also reacted to the lawsuit, telling Us in a press release, "From every thing we've read within the press, this baseless lawsuit will go nowhere because 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 drive or worry, LA DA Jackie Lacey introduced 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 listening to was set for September of that yr and could resist 45 years to life in a state prison if convicted. The District Lawyer's Workplace declined to file costs for 2 of the five 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 house. "Mr. Masterson is innocent, and we're confident that he can be exonerated when all of the proof lastly involves mild and witnesses have the chance 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" defense prepared after being charged with three counts of rape. "It must be pointed out the alleged victims are presently suing Danny for vital monetary damages," the insider stated. "Danny won't be accepting a plea deal, despite strain he'll 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 throughout a courtroom hearing. "We would like a good trial and an unbiased jury. We would like a jury that isn't contaminated by damaging media protection, and in the interest of equity," 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 hearing for March of that yr. LUCY NICHOLSON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
In Might 2021, a decide ordered Masterson to stand trial on the rape fees made towards him. All three ladies testified at the preliminary hearing, the place the decide dominated that prosecutors had sufficient proof for the case to go to trial. Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
Amid his authorized points, the Chicago 8 actor and his spouse, Bijou Phillips, listed their Los Angeles five-bedroom house in August 2021 for $6.9 million. The mansion bought four months later for $6.2 million, in accordance with Filth. (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 legal staff asked for info associated to Remini's anti-Scientologist TV show, in addition to something about church leader David Miscavige and his spouse, Shelly. His lawyer claimed the knowledge would assist them examine the alleged "inconsistences" with accusing witness' accounts at trial. The decide, nevertheless, referred to as the request an "overt try and get hold of privileged info in LAPD information" and denied access to the information. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
An appeals courtroom ruled in January 2022 that Masterson's accusers would 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 are usually not enforceable towards members who have left the religion, with respect to claims for subsequent non-religious, tortious acts," the California Courtroom of Appel dominated. "To hold in any other case would bind members irrevocably to a faith they've the constitutional right to go away." Amanda Schwab/Starpix/Shutterstock
In February 2022, the actor sought to have the legal rape expenses dismissed. He was unsuccessful, and his trial is about for August 2022. LUCY NICHOLSON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Opening statements in the trial began in October 2022. Though the protection sought to have any mention of Scientology barred from the proceedings during a pre-trial listening to, the request was denied. "Attempt as Masterson's workforce may to maintain that proof out, I feel it's inevitable that it'll turn out to be an element in the trial, and the prosecution will doubtless use this to their benefit to elucidate the extraordinarily lengthy delay in reporting these allegations to regulation enforcement," Joshua Ritter, a protection lawyer and former Los Angeles County prosecutor, stated in a press release to Us. Based on 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 expenses Masterson confronted inflicting the decide to declare it a mistrial. The case will probably be retried in April 2023. "While we are disenchanted 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 also need to give our heartfelt appreciation to the victims for bravely stepping forward and recounting their harrowing experiences. We are also grateful for the arduous work of the prosecution group and we'll now contemplate our subsequent steps because it pertains to prosecuting this case."
After the decide denied a protection request to dismiss the case in January 2023, a date of April 17 was set for jury selection for the second trial. "It seems there are various different witnesses the Individuals might select to name or totally different arguments the Individuals might choose to make," Decide Charlaine Olmedo stated at the time. "A unique consequence at a retrial is at the very least 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 Show character, Hyde, isn't a part of That '90s Show. 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
Information broke in Might 2023 that Masterson was found guilty of raping two ladies in 2003, but the jury couldn't reach a verdict for a November 2001 allegation involving an ex-girlfriend. He's set to return to courtroom on August 4, 2023. With the 2 expenses, 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 prison on September 7, 2023, after he was convicted of two counts of forcible rape during his sexual assault retrial.& "Mr. Masterson, you are not the sufferer here. Your actions 20 years in the past took away one other individual's selection and voice," the decide advised the actor in courtroom. "Your actions 20 years ago right now have been legal, and that's why you're right here." Following the trial, Masterson's protection lawyer Shawn Holley announced they'll attraction in state and federal courtroom outdoors the legal courts, per Deadline. Jason Merritt/Getty Photographs
Masterson's mugshot was released in December 2023, and he started his 30-year prison 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 Jail in Central California. The well-known jail once housed Charles Manson. Us confirmed in February 2024 that after just some weeks, Masterson was as soon as once more moved. This time, he was relocated to medium-and-minimum-security facility Males's Colony in San Luis Obispo, California. CA DOC/MEGA
More >> https://ift.tt/h37OdZC Source: MAG NEWS
