The first trial ended in November when the jury could not reach a verdict on the three counts of forcible rape that the actor faced, prompting a judge to declare a mistrial. Firstarrested in 2020over incidents that occurred between 2001 and 2003 in his Hollywood Hills house, Masterson faces up to 45 years in state prison if found guilty on all three rape counts, as he did in the first trial. It was a type of public dissection that is unusual for the insular, enigmatic institution. Mr. Addressing the jurors as he spoke in a much stronger voice than last time and with a constant stream of images of the Jane Does on the nearby video monitor, Mueller bluntly told the panel that there would be no expert taking the stand to testify whether the women had been slipped something by Masterson. The court is not going to allow the parties to go into the weeds, the judge said sternly to both the defense and the prosecution Monday as the same problems that slowed down the previous five-week trial began to emerge. The trial brief says that Masterson raped a second woman, identified only as Christina B., who had been in a relationship with him and had lived with him for six years. But in a potentially significant shift, the judge, Charlaine F. Olmedo, has allowed prosecutors to tell jurors directly that Masterson had drugged his three accusers, The Associated Press reported. She testified she had set boundaries and was clear there was to be no sex. In 20 years on the court, I have never said that, I never would, the judge said as things came to a halt due to some tech-support issues. As his trial on criminal rape charges kicked off in Los Angeles last week, "That 70's Show" actor Danny Masterson's lawyers presumed that the Church of Scientology would be the elephant in the room throughout proceedings.. Masterson is a second-generation Scientologist, and the three rape accusers are all former members of She would only mention thinking she had been drugged years later after the investigation began, Cohen said. Seated at the defense table today, the suited Masterson looked at the jury during Muellers opening statement and Cohens remarks, occasionally moving his facial muscles and stroking his jaw. Scientology is not a defendant just Masterson, he also stated, much as he did in longtime church member Mastersons previous trial last year. Danny Masterson will have to return to court to resolve his rape case after a judge declared a mistrial in November. Outside of the court, Masterson did not respond to a verbal request for comment. Masterson is a prominent member of the church. Theyre here to seek justice, and Im confident that each of you will be able to render guilty on all counts.. "The jury focused on the most relevant evidence - the testimony and prior statements of the Jane Does and a strong majority reasonably concluded that this critical evidence established reasonable doubt," Cohen said in paperwork obtained by Deadline and Law & Crime last week. Singers testimony was delayed again and again by other matters in the case, and the attorney never ended up testifying. Attempts to subpoena church records and call former Scientologists to testify, including Remini, were unsuccessful, however. The activities of Scientology have been so much a part of the evidence thats being put forth as to why these women were not immediately going to law enforcement that its sort of brought the dirty laundry out into public view, which is exactly what Scientology does not want to have happen, said Mike Rinder, the churchs former top spokesman, who left the faith in 2007. According to Deadline, the first of Masterson's three accusers whose names are not public testified on October 19. The actor Danny Masterson at his arraignment on rape charges in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2020. 1, Assistant D.A. The actor said he looked forward to clearing my name once and for all, before thanking his former castmates and the shows crew for the time they spent together. Lawyers for Mr Masterson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press. 4, who is not among the three rape charges that make up this case, and portrayed her as a spurned one-night stand who wanted a relationship with Masterson. It has hired private detectives to keep tabs on straying members, and experts say its lawyers vigorously defend against legal incursions, arguing to judges that Scientologys beliefs are not courtroom fodder. After a jury failed to reach a verdict last year regarding rape charges against Danny Masterson, the actors retrial began on Monday. Victims are realizing they do have recourse, and they dont have to be afraid anymore. Rinder said that in recent years, the churchs responses to media inquiries had become hermit-like. The fact that the church issued a detailed defense of its practices to The Times is a sign the Masterson case has become a significant problem for the church, he said. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor Danny Masterson drugged then raped three women at his Hollywood-area home between 2001 and 2003, a prosecutor told jurors Monday in his opening statement in the retrial of the star of That 70s Show.. A judge rejected Mastersons request for a variety of subpoenas in August 2021 after his legal team asked for information related to Reminis anti-Scientologist TV show, in addition to anything about church leader David Miscavige and his wife, Shelly. The retrial is expected to last more than a month. The policy explained why several of the women did not report Mastersons alleged crimes to the police for more than a decade, the judge found. Im not going to fight my ex-girlfriend in the media like shes been baiting me to do for more than two years. Scroll down for more details on Mastersons sexual assault case, trial and his ongoing civil lawsuit: Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! Danny Masterson told a judge on Monday that he would not testify in his own defense as his rape trial nears its conclusion. Masterson, 47, who also appeared in the Netflix comedy The Ranch, has been charged with raping three women at his home in the Hollywood Hills in the early 2000s. Remini may also end up being a witness for the prosecution for Jane Doe No. Masterson could face up to 45 years to a life sentence in state prison if convicted. She said she went downstairs and confronted Masterson, and he acknowledged having sex with her while she was unconscious, the document states. Pledging no sidebars and other occasions that could eat up time in the retrial, Olmedo got to a place today that it took her more than a week to reach in the last trial and she made sure the courtroom knew the rules. Before that, citing Jen Bs 2004 LAPD report, Cohen put the credibility of now-Superintendent Alexander Schlegel as well as that of other law enforcement up against that of Jane Doe No. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit., Masterson continued: I have never been charged with a crime, let alone convicted of one. A veteran of O.J. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much In May 2021, a judge ordered Masterson to stand trial on the rape charges made against him. Danny Masterson. Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced the news after arresting the Yes Man actor in June 2020. Cosby's conviction after two trials of his own was permanently thrown out by Pennsylvania's highest court. 1 in the case, the prosecutor was a more measured than earlier in the morning but still maintained a pinpoint focus on the individual stories of the three Jane Does. Masterson would co-star with Kutcher again on Netflixs The Ranch. He also had a role on TBSs Men at Work. (TBS, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. "Not giving these victims another chance with a jury who can sit there and consider all of the evidence win, lose or draw that would be an injustice.". His exes, Bixler and Riales, were reportedly identified in the lawsuit. An appeals court ruled in January 2022 that Mastersons accusers do not have to take their case to a religious arbitration panel run by the Church of Scientology after claiming in a civil suit that Masterson and Miscavige stalked and harassed them. Not because of Mr. Mastersons celebrity status, but because of the heinous allegations by the alleged victims., The insider added: This is a high-profile case, and it needs to be airtight before any decision is made about charging Danny Masterson.. Interpretation of Church doctrine by the courts is prohibited and the ruling is evidence of why.. Mr Masterson, who is best known for his role in the sitcom That 70s Show, was accused of raping three women at his home in Hollywood in the early 2000s. 'Tiger King' star Joe Exotic loses appealof murder-for-hire prison sentence, Contributing: Maria Puente, Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY; Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press, This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Danny Masterson rape case will go to court again following mistrial, What was he accused of? Masterson's attorney, Philip Cohen, said in the defense opening statement that those hazy stories and assertions are all the prosecution has, and he told jurors, there is no drugging charge in this case.. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. As in the previous All Rights Reserved. Masterson is charged with three counts of rape by force or fear, which could mean up to 45 years in prison if convicted. Danny Masterson. We want a fair trial and an unbiased jury. LOS ANGELES (AP) A judge declared a mistrial Wednesday at the rape trial of That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson after jurors, who were leaning strongly toward acquitting him, deadlocked following the monthlong trial in which the Church of Scientology played a supporting role. Opening statement is a preview from the lawyers that is to be done in good faith, said Cohen earlier in the afternoon during his own opening statement in his clients rape retrial. But at a hearing last week in the rape case against actor Danny Masterson, church officials were unable to stop their practices from being debated in open court. 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A deadlocked jury led When a woman explained during her testimony that wog-law is the churchs disdainful term for police and courts, Olmedo asked if Scientologists refer to nonmembers as wogs, much like wizards in the fictional universe of Harry Potter call non-magical people muggles., I suppose, the woman responded. UPDATED, 3:08 PM: Please dont ever tell me to hold on, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo snapped at Danny Mastersons lead lawyer Phillip Cohen in a remarkable moment Monday afternoon over the defenses opening statements in Mastersons rape retrial. who are also engaged in a civil suit against him. Even before todays proceedings formally kicked off, there was some high Scientology drama in Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedos courtroom. Jury selection in the retrial is set to begin March 29. The Church has strongly denied pressurising victims. James Queally writes about crime and policing in Southern California, where he currently covers Los Angeles Countys criminal courts and the district attorneys office for the Los Angeles Times. Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton, A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Gwyneth Paltrow won't recoup attorney fees in ski crash suit, 'Zombie' misinformation: 'Rape Day' hoax resurfaces on TikTok, 'Very homophobic': Teachers' union leader Randi Weingarten says House hearing crossed the line, Hopkintons former deputy police chief indicted on child rape charges, Portland: Bank Accounts With 7X the Average Rate, A former school resource officer at Hopkinton High has been charged with raping a student, Henry Idema: A problem for religion and society: Masculinity. All Rights Reserved. In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Mastersons lawyers wrote in court documents that Kathy J.s testimony should be excluded from the retrial because the recent disclosure that she could be a witness prevents Masterson from fully investigating, preparing for and defending against her 23-year-old allegation., What to Know About Danny Mastersons Second Rape Trial, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/26/us/danny-masterson-rape-trial.html. Todays proceedings followed a week of jury selection, motions and other housekeeping. As his criminal case continued to be investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, Masterson was sued by four of his sexual assault accusers in civil court. However, in the current climate, it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused. Like other rapes cited by the D.A., Jenkins was handed a drink by Masterson and supposedly became light head and confused soon afterwards. The four women up here, youre going to hear what it took for these women to get in court the limitations the church put on them, Mueller said, pointing at the composite picture on the video monitor just next to the jurors. A source at the Los Angeles District Attorneys office exclusively told Us in February 2018 that despite the heinous sexual misconduct claims against Masterson, the DAs office was not ready to press charges. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies, Make no mistake, the Church of Scientology is under attack, a source exclusively told Us at the time. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. In one of Ortegas posts, he claimed that one victim approached Leah Remini, who was a Scientologist like Masterson for decades, and told her what allegedly happened. Three of the five alleged victims were Scientologists, which is a church that Masterson has been a part of since he was a child. According to Variety, the jurors had leaned toward acquittal on all three counts, but Mueller argued on Tuesday that the jury had ignored supporting testimony. Olmedo quickly rejected that suggestion and Cohens claim that she previously agreed to such a designation. But prosecutors wrote that her testimony and that of another accuser who testified at the first trial bolster the credibility of the women in the case by showing that Masterson performed similar acts on other women. The firm is representing the individuals in their civil case against Masterson and the Church of Scientology. This is an ongoing article that was originally published in January 2022 and last updated in April 2023. Credit: LUCY NICHOLSON/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock. 5 min read. The churchs doctrine generally dismisses government institutions like courts as invalid and directs members to deal with complaints internally, said Rinder, who described himself as having worked closely with L. Ron Hubbard, the late science fiction author who founded the church. Stephanie Baer is a reporter with BuzzFeed News and is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Church policy explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land, including the reporting of crimes. Expected to be in court every day, as he was in the five-week first trial, Masterson has been free on $3.3 million bail the past three years. Mesereau also brought out a copy of Introduction to Scientology Ethics, a 528-page tome written by Hubbard, as he cross-examined another alleged victim. Three of the five alleged victims were Scientologists, which is a church that Masterson has been a part of since he was a child. The judge in the Danny Masterson rape trial declared a hung jury on Wednesday, after the jurors said they could not reach a verdict on any of the charges. L.A. has a new answer. The church said in a statement after the women's testimony in the first trial that it has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of Scientologists, or of anyone, to law enforcement.. In ruling that there was sufficient evidence against Masterson to allow the case to proceed toward trial, Olmedo concluded that Scientology has an expressly written doctrine that not only discourages, but prohibits its members from reporting one another to law enforcement. That instantly puts it into a different zone. This was a stark contrast to the use of much more limited technology in the previous trial, which was minimal and lightly informative at best. 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In November 2001, the document says, she awoke to Masterson having sex with her and told him to stop. In another difference from the first trial, Olmedo is allowing expert witnesses to testify on those policies. Two of the alleged victims in the case issued a statement saying they were disappointed Masterson has evaded criminal accountability for his deplorable acts. Jane Doe No. The Times generally does not name victims of alleged sexual assault unless they choose to fully identify themselves. Jurors said they had voted seven times over the course of two dayswithout being able to reach a consensus on any of the three counts. A jury in Los Angeles has failed to reach a verdict in a rape case against US actor Danny Masterson. About 20 or 30 minutes later, she felt very disoriented, the brief states. Hesitant to reveal why it was a possibility the former King of Queens star would be called by the defense, new-ishly hired attorney Shawn Holley would only say Remini was a percipient witness to certain conversations a statement the judge redefined as an impeachment witness, based on elements of Reminis award-winning docuseries Scientology and the Aftermath. We are aware of [the victim]s 16-year-old allegations. There is no drug charge, the lawyer said, ripping into the date-rape drug claims that Mueller put front and center in his own opening statement. In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies. A longtime sharp and critical thorn in church leader David Miscaviges paw, Remini was served a subpoena by the defense this morning by the defense, who wanted the potential witness excluded from the proceedings. CNN has reached out to Mastersons attorney for comment. In August 2019, the women claimed that Masterson, along with the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, stalked them, invaded their privacy and conspired to obstruct justice after the women came forward against Masterson. 2023 Cable News Network. As the hearing wore on, Mesereau appeared to change tactics, introducing church documents as evidence in an attempt to undercut the credibility of Mastersons accusers. "The contradictory nature of their trial testimony is not going to credibly change. Danny Masterson will be retried on three counts of rape after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the That 70s Show actor's first trial last year. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Variety That '70s Show actor Danny Masterson pleads not guilty to rape charges. Before joining The Times in 2018, he covered city news and state politics at the Hartford Courant. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller told the court Tuesday that his office intends to pursue a second trial against Masterson, who is charged with three counts of rape by force or fear for allegedly sexually assaulting three women at his Hollywood Hills home in 2001 and 2003. Mueller today also put focus for this jury on Kathleen Jenkins, who was not a part of the first trial. The LAPDs investigation was prompted by multiple police reports and journalist Tony Ortegas report of three womens alleged accounts of rape, sodomy or sexual assault, which he posted on his blog, The Underground Bunker. Direct discussion of drugging was missing from the first trial which ended in a mistrial when a jury deadlocked on all three counts with Mueller instead having to imply it through the testimony of the women, who said they were woozy, disoriented and at times unconscious on the nights they described the actor raping them. All I seek is justice and to prevent this from ever happening to anyone else as it has for some time. The third woman went to police in 2017. The prosecutions opening statement is anticipated to concluded after the courts regular morning break, with the defense set to beginning their opening statement later today. The Men at Work alum has maintained his innocence since the allegations first surfaced, telling Us Weekly in a statement in December 2017, From day one, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Although the defense sought to have any mention of Scientology barred from the proceedings during a pre-trial hearing, the request was denied. The Court either did not read them in full or ignored them. Opening statements in the trial began in October 2022. The actor Danny Masterson at his arraignment on rape charges in Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2020. A different outcome at a retrial is at least a possibility.. Danny Masterson made headlines in 2017 when he was first accused of sexual assault. Mastersons family members and a large entourage of well-dressed Scientologists had been lingering at the courthouse since Wednesday morning awaiting the verdict. Within Scientology, this becomes panic stations, high alert.. reported. I find the jurors hopelessly deadlocked, Olmedo declaredafter inquiring whether there was anything the court could do to move them closer to reaching a unanimous decision. You have to give him [Masterson] sex when he wants it, the Assistant D.A. CNNs Cheri Mossburg contributed to this report. A Warner Bros. We want a jury that is not contaminated by negative media coverage, and in the interest of fairness, Mesereau said at the time. The three women who have accused Masterson of rape were identified in court by their first names and initials of their last names. The jury began deliberations anew on Nov. 28 after two alternates replaced jurors who had COVID-19. Jurors heard testimony about the churchs origins, and how members use a polygraph-like E-meter during a process meant to lead to spiritual clarity. The first trial ended in a hung jury in November. They argued that the jury in the first trial believed "there were significant evidentiary and credibility problems" with the prosecutors' case. At the time of the alleged incident, assistant prop master Jenkins while her husband was just down the hall. Like Mastersons last trial, the first witness was one of the Jane Does. The actor was arrested on June 17 and released later that day on $3.3 million bail. Atty. At the time, Masterson said he was obviously very disappointed by the decision, in a statement to CNN. Another, a onetime friend of Mastersons who had been born into Scientology, testified thatin 2003, he had taken her upstairs from the hot tub at his Los Angeles home and raped her in his bedroom. Danny Masterson rape case declared mistrialafter jurors 'hopelessly deadlocked,' judge rules. While employing language similar in scope to what the prosecutor used in his first remarks in the former That 70s Show stars first trial last year that ended in a mistrial, Mueller strategically shifted tactics this time for a more visceral approach over what he believed happened to Jane Doe No. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The fate of actor and celebrity Scientologist Danny Masterson is now in the hands of a jury after four weeks of emotional testimony. Mr Masterson, who is best known for his role in the sitcom That 70s Show, was accused of raping three women at his home in Hollywood in the early 2000s. He had denied the charges, saying he was being persecuted for his membership of the Church of Scientology. The jury in the Danny Masterson rape trial told the judge on Friday that it could not reach a verdict. A fifth woman came forward in December 2017, claiming that while she was dating the actor, he repeatedly raped her. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Joining the returning Cohen at Mastersons table is the high-profile Holley, who took a leading role right away today. Danny Masterson made headlines in 2017 when he was first accused of sexual assault. He wasnt charged with five counts because two of the womens cases had insufficient evidence and statutes of limitations.
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