U.S. actor and Scientologist Danny Masterson on Wednesday was discovered responsible of raping two girls at his house within the Hollywood Hills.
The star of tv’s “That ’70s Show” and “The Ranch” was convicted of two counts of forcible rape between 2001 and 2003, whereas jurors at a Los Angeles courthouse stated they have been deadlocked on a 3rd rape cost.
It was the second rape trial for Masterson, after earlier proceedings have been declared a mistrial final November when a distinct jury was unable to achieve a unanimous choice.
Masterson was taken into custody following the decision, and is awaiting sentencing. He might face 30 years to life in jail.
The actor, now 47, rose to fame with the 1998 launch of retro sitcom “That ’70s Show,” the place he performed the character of Steven Hyde alongside fellow stars Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher.
He co-starred once more with Kutcher on Netflix’s “The Ranch,” however was fired in 2017 and written off the present after Los Angeles police confirmed they have been investigating a number of rape allegations in opposition to the actor.
Prosecutors on the time dropped two additional sexual assault instances in opposition to Masterson over lack of proof and the statute of limitations passing.
During closing arguments earlier this month, prosecutors stated Masterson “drugged and raped each one of these victims” and known as on the jury to carry him “accountable for what he has done.”
The three alleged victims have been additionally members of the Church of Scientology on the time, and Masterson met them by way of the secretive group. Two of them stated church officers had discouraged them from contacting legislation enforcement.
Masterson’s attorneys in his closing argument questioned why the court docket had heard “so much about Scientology,” and the protection has steered that bias in opposition to the Church might have been a motivating issue.
The Church of Scientology didn’t instantly reply to AFP request for remark.
The jury deliberated round seven days. The third rape cost, on which no verdict was reached, concerned a former longtime girlfriend of Masterson.
© 2023 AFP