Danny Masterson Charged with Three Counts of Rape "By Force or Fear" *GUILTY 2 of 3*

Danny Masterson Charged with Raping Three Women "By Force or Fear"

If convicted on all counts, the That '70s Show actor could get 45 years to life in prison.

www.vanityfair.com

Danny Masterson Charged with Three Counts of Rape "By Force or Fear"
If convicted on all counts, the That '70s Show actor could face 45 years to life in prison.
By Anthony Breznican
June 17, 2020


Actor Danny Masterson has long been accused of acts of sexual violence, and on Wednesday the That ’70s Show actor was finally arrested after being charged with the rapes of three women in separate incidents dating back to 2001 and 2003.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey's office charged the 44-year-old with three counts of "rape by force or fear." "If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison," the district attorney's office said in a statement.

The complaint accuses him of raping a 23-year-old woman in 2001. He is also charged with committing two other assaults in 2003, one against a 28-year-old woman in April, and another against a 23-year-old woman between October and December of that year.



The case will be prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller of the Sex Crimes Division, who stated that all of the alleged rapes occurred at the actor's Hollywood Hills home.

Prosecutors noted that they declined to file sexual assault charges against Masterson in two other cases, "one for insufficient evidence and the other based upon the statute of limitations for the crime alleged."


Masterson has been held on $3.3 million bail. He is represented by defense attorney Thomas Mesereau, who previously represented Bill Cosby, Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson against sex crime charges. In a statement to the Associated Press, Mesereau insisted that Masterson is innocent.

“We’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify," the attorney said. “Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out,” Mesereau said. “The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false.”

The criminal complaint doesn't name the victims, but the timeline of the accusations matches those of four women who accused Masterson of sexual assault in 2016 and 2017 as part of the #MeToo movement. Last year, they sued Masterson, along with the Church of Scientology, to which he belongs, alleging that the powerful and secretive organization stalked and intimidated them for coming forward with their police reports. Masterson and Scientology officials all denied wrongdoing.

Masterson responded to the suit with a statement: “This is beyond ridiculous. I’m not going to fight my ex-girlfriend in the media like she’s been baiting me to do for more than two years. I will beat her in court—and look forward to it because the public will finally be able [to] learn the truth and see how I’ve been railroaded by this woman. And once her lawsuit is thrown out, I intend to sue her and the others who jumped on the bandwagon for the damage they caused me and my family.”

In the lawsuit, the women each claim Masterson forced himself on them or took advantage of them when they were intoxicated and unable to consent.

Masterson is set to be arraigned on Sept. 18.

 

[Kimster]

Guilty or not, I don't know that it's a good move to state that you're going to sue the accusers once it's over.

 

[Kimster]

I was wondering what Leah would say:

Leah Remini: Masterson's arrest 'just the beginning' for Scientology

Leah Remini has called Danny Masterson's arrest on suspicion of raping three women 'just the beginning' for the Church of Scientology.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Howell]

15-20 years later these accusations come up? I have to agree with Masterson; that's beyond ridiculous.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

I was wondering what Leah would say:

Leah Remini: Masterson's arrest 'just the beginning' for Scientology

Leah Remini has called Danny Masterson's arrest on suspicion of raping three women 'just the beginning' for the Church of Scientology.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Here's all you need to know about Scientology's involvement: " The Tampa Bay Times reported last that the Church of Scientology has moved to transfer into arbitration in the case."

 

[SleutherLou]

15-20 years later these accusations come up? I have to agree with Masterson; that's beyond ridiculous.

These accusations have been around for years,I knew about them from researching scientology,I dont know if they have tried to press charges before but certainly the stories were out there.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

These accusations have been around for years,I knew about them from researching scientology,I dont know if they have tried to press charges before but certainly the stories were out there.

Ooohhh! I've read a lot about Scientology. They're a creepy cult.

 

[SleutherLou]

Ooohhh! I've read a lot about Scientology. They're a creepy cult.

They are indeed!

 

[Cousin Dupree]

 

[GrandmaBear]

I know very little about this one. Have heard stirrings before. Could not have even told you who Danny Masterson is/was. Now I see which actor he was on the 70s show. The only reason I know that show at all is because it was the only thing on some nights early evening back when on the few channels we had. I found the show, although on occasion a bit funny, and only a bit and that was usually due to the mother character, I found it overall moronic and stupid. And rarely did it give an out loud chuckle. I can't even believe Ashton Kutscher played that stupid role...

Anyhow, unless Danny Masterson went on to great stardom, which I never heard of, I could not have even connected his name to that show, to me he is a nothing actor, no big name I mean, never even touched my radar. So my first thought there is, it is not like we have women going after some big star or a big "somebody" which is usually the case, or a very well known name.

Add in Scientology, well okay. Leaning a certain direction now a bit. A very strange cult that has wielded phenomenal power with some very big names.

I don't know enough to have a solid opinion but I have no reason to doubt these women based on these things.

Jmo.

 

[SleutherLou]

I had no idea who he was until I looked him up after I read the rumours whilst googling scientology ( I find it and other cults fascinating), I've never watched that 70s show, I was surprised to learn that he is the brother of Chris Masterson from Malcolm in the middle,and Allana Masterson from The walking dead.
Sometimes I am still shocked by how many celebrities are scientologists, but some of them like the Mastersons and Leah Remini have grown up in the cult. That makes me admire Leah more for getting out.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

I had no idea who he was until I looked him up after I read the rumours whilst googling scientology ( I find it and other cults fascinating), I've never watched that 70s show, I was surprised to learn that he is the brother of Chris Masterson from Malcolm in the middle,and Allana Masterson from The walking dead.
Sometimes I am still shocked by how many celebrities are scientologists, but some of them like the Mastersons and Leah Remini have grown up in the cult. That makes me admire Leah more for getting out.

Before you joined us we talked a lot about Leah in the basement party. Then the big crash made all of that disappear. Overall, most of us love Leah and what she's doing. We've watched her show too.

One Scientology book I can recommend is blown for good by Marc Headley.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

 

[GrandmaBear]

I had no idea who he was until I looked him up after I read the rumours whilst googling scientology ( I find it and other cults fascinating), I've never watched that 70s show, I was surprised to learn that he is the brother of Chris Masterson from Malcolm in the middle,and Allana Masterson from The walking dead.
Sometimes I am still shocked by how many celebrities are scientologists, but some of them like the Mastersons and Leah Remini have grown up in the cult. That makes me admire Leah more for getting out.

Leah stands out for me. Without doing it publicly I think she would have been in extreme danger., even more so. It is amazing how many Hollywood people have been part of this thing.

The 70s Show, I am sorry was stupid. It is something I never would have watched had it not been the only thing on. I suppose on a certain day, in the right frame of mind, it may have had some funny moments. I to this day could not tell you a single actor/actress name other than Ashton Kutscher and only because he went on to marry Demi and do more and was an underwear model. Until just today I checked who Danny Masterson was of the characters.

Unless he went on to great fame, no clue, I don't see women centering on him if false claims. He is a big unknown to me at least. I did not even know his name from watching the show on occasion.

 

[SleutherLou]

Leah stands out for me. Without doing it publicly I think she would have been in extreme danger., even more so. It is amazing how many Hollywood people have been part of this thing.

The 70s Show, I am sorry was stupid. It is something I never would have watched had it not been the only thing on. I suppose on a certain day, in the right frame of mind, it may have had some funny moments. I to this day could not tell you a single actor/actress name other than Ashton Kutscher and only because he went on to marry Demi and do more and was an underwear model. Until just today I checked who Danny Masterson was of the characters.

Unless he went on to great fame, no clue, I don't see women centering on him if false claims. He is a big unknown to me at least. I did not even know his name from watching the show on occasion.

I know Mila Kunis was in it and the woman who played Frank Jr's wife in friends,but only from seeing articles online with pictures, cant say it ever interested me so I would have no clue about Danny Masterson,but I did watch Malcolm in the middle and The walking dead which is how I know of his siblings.
I think the women who have accused him are also scientologists which to me makes their claims even more credible because they are brainwashed to put up and shut up or else,why would they put themselves in for the scientologists suppressive person treatment for a lie?. X

 

[SleutherLou]

I am always really disappointed when I find out an actor I love watching turns out be a scientologist

 

[GrandmaBear]

I know Mila Kunis was in it and the woman who played Frank Jr's wife in friends,but only from seeing articles online with pictures, cant say it ever interested me so I would have no clue about Danny Masterson,but I did watch Malcolm in the middle and The walking dead which is how I know of his siblings.
I think the women who have accused him are also scientologists which to me makes their claims even more credible because they are brainwashed to put up and shut up or else,why would they put themselves in for the scientologists suppressive person treatment for a lie?. X

I can't quite recall but the first I ever heard about this "church" where it really struck more than an odd bell of not knowing what it was was with Tom Cruise years ago before Leah even came out. I think anyhow. We are talking before internet even. I just remember thinking what an odd name for a church, probably nothing more. Clearly they had power to shut news down looking in hindsight or if someone tried to leave their "fold".

To keep this short, fast forward through the years and the power still remains, big power, to try to shut news down or so it appears but enough has come out to have a real opinion of this "church". I remember reading an account of a man years ago and how he tried to leave and had to hide and was basically hunted. I have no trouble believing it in what has come out over time, even though it still often gets covered and tamped down.

I agree with you, the fac tthey were part of it, makes their stories more likely to be true. Also, Masterson is no big name, not like they are talking about a Cosby or a Weinstein... So why??

 

[Cousin Dupree]

I am always really disappointed when I find out an actor I love watching turns out be a scientologist

Hubbard's strategy from the beginning was to get high profile people involved. Usually actors and actresses.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Hubbard's strategy from the beginning was to get high profile people involved. Usually actors and actresses.

Makes perfect sense and sure did work for them...

 

[Howell]

"In the lawsuit, the women each claim Masterson forced himself on them or took advantage of them when they were intoxicated and unable to consent."

This is where I have a problem with allegations like this. If a man forces himself on a woman, there isn't a great deal of nuance or ambiguity about it. A woman knows(or should know) right away whether she's been assaulted or not. But 15 years after the fact, you don't get to suddenly decide that you no longer feel you were able to consent at the time and call yourself a rape victim.