Danny Masterson, a Hollywood star, has been found guilty of rape and sentenced to prison.
On Wednesday, May 31st, the American actor was led out of court in handcuffs after a jury found him guilty on two of three counts of rape in his second trial, in which the Church of Scientology played a key role.
Prosecutors claimed that Masterson raped three women in his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003, including a longtime girlfriend. He had spiked the women’s drinks in order to rape them, they told the jury.
All three women were church members at the time, and they claimed he used his position there to avoid punishment for many years.
According to the Associated Press, the verdict was reached after a jury of seven women and five men deliberated for seven days over two weeks.
The jury of 12 could not reach a decision on the third count, which charged Masterson with raping a longtime girlfriend. They voted in favor of the conviction 8-4. The actor, best known for his role in That ’70s Show, will be held without bail until his sentence is handed down.
When the verdict was read in the Los Angeles courtroom, Masterson’s wife, actress and model Bijou Phillips, burst into tears. The court has yet to set a date for the Hollywood actor’s sentencing.
“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,” one of the women said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the 47-year-old actor declined to comment, but his attorneys will almost certainly appeal.
“We want to express our gratitude to the three women who came forward and bravely shared their experiences,” Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement after the verdict Wednesday.
No witnesses were cited by Masterson’s attorneys, as the actor also declined to testify. His lawyers argued that the acts were consensual.
