Danny Masterson found guilty of 2 counts of rape in 2nd trial
Global News
The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the third count of rape after two weeks of deliberations in the Los Angeles retrial of the "That '70s Show" star.
The Los Angeles jury for the rape retrial of actor Danny Masterson delivered guilty verdicts for two out of three rape counts against the That ’70s Show star Wednesday.
The convictions came after nearly two weeks of deliberation. The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the third count, which alleged Masterson raped a longtime girlfriend. They had voted 8-4 in favour of conviction.
Masterson, 47, who pleaded not guilty to all charges of rape against him, was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. He now faces 30 years to life in prison.
No sentencing date has yet been set, but the judge told Masterson and his lawyers to return to court Aug. 4 for a hearing. Masterson will be held without bail until he is sentenced.
His wife, actor and model Bijou Phillips, wept as he was led away. Other family and friends sat stone-faced.
“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, whom Masterson was convicted of raping at his home in 2003, said in a statement.
The woman whose count left the jury deadlocked said in the statement: “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.”
The convictions come after last year’s original trial on the same three counts ended in a mistrial when a jury deadlocked, failing to reach unanimous verdicts. Prosecutors quickly moved to hold a retrial.
