LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Danny Masterson was reportedly found guilty in the rape trial held on Wednesday, May 31. The 47-year-old was convicted of two of three counts of rape by a jury of seven women and five men in a Los Angeles courtroom.
The jurors, however, could not declare him guilty on the third count, which accused the ‘That ’70s Show’ actor of raping a girlfriend. The date of sentencing has not been confirmed yet by the court. However, the ‘The Ranch’ star is expected to go behind bars for three decades.
Who are Danny Masterson’s accusers?
The full identities of Masterson’s accusers were not disclosed during the trial. The Daily Beast reported that the court named them as Chrissy B, Jen B and N Trout. The actor reportedly gave them drinks laced with drugs before sexually assaulting them while he was at the peak of his career during the late '90s to mid-2000s.
Reports stated that they sought the help of the Church of Scientology since all of them, as well as Masterson, were its members, but they were told to keep quiet. Ariel Anson, a deputy district attorney, told the court in her closing argument, “The defendant drugs his victims to gain control. He does this to take away his victims’ ability to consent.”
“Most of his victims are members of the Church of Scientology, and that makes sense. The church tells his victims: ‘Rape isn’t rape. You cause this. And above all, you can’t go to law enforcement,’” Anson added.
‘Danny Masterson will face accountability for his criminal behavior’
With the verdict, the survivors have reportedly found some relief. After the conviction, one of the survivors said, “I am experiencing a complex array of emotions — relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness — knowing that my abuser, Danny Masterson, will face accountability for his criminal behavior.”
Another woman, whose accusations could not be proved in the court, added, “While I’m encouraged that Danny Masterson will face some criminal punishment, I am devastated that he has dodged criminal accountability for his heinous conduct against me.”
In a statement, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascan shared, “We want to express our gratitude to the three women who came forward and bravely shared their experiences. Their courage and strength have been an inspiration to us all.”
‘They soldiered on, determined to seek justice’
Leah Remini shared her happiness over the court's decision. The 52-year-old actress was once a member of Scientology and was now one of its staunch critics. She tweeted, “The two guilty verdicts in the rape trial of celebrity Scientologist Danny Masterson are a relief. The women who survived Danny Masterson's predation are heroes. For years, they and their families have faced vicious attacks and harassment from Scientology and Danny's well-funded legal team. Nevertheless, they soldiered on, determined to seek justice.”
“While it is up to them to decide whether they are satisfied with this verdict, I am relieved that Danny Masterson is facing some justice after over two decades of brutal sexual violence with no criminal consequences. To Chrissie Bixler, whose count ended in a hung jury, I know Danny raped you; I know that Scientology tried to destroy you. However, this case would not have moved forward and resulted in two guilty verdicts if it were not for you,” Remini added.
