Danny Masterson found guilty of two counts of rape in retrial after jury was deadlocked in first

A Los Angeles jury found “That 70s Show” actor Danny Masterson guilty of two out of the three counts of rape on Wednesday.

Masterson, 47, was tried for a second time over charges he had had raped three women at his Hollywood Hills home in the early 2000s.

The jury deliberated for more than a week before reaching their verdict, finding him guilty in two instances but being hung on a third count.

Jurors convicted Masterson of sexually assulting victims Jen B. and N. Trout, but were unable to reach a verdict on the allegations against the actor’s former girlfriend, Christina Bixler.

Jurors in the first trial deadlocked in November but in the second trial, Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo allowed more evidence to be heard, including testimony that Masterson had drugged his victims before sexually assaulting them.

During the first trial, the accusation of drugging could only be implied when the women each testified they felt disoriented or lost consciousness.

Masterson’s attorney, Philip Cohen, refuted those claims and reiterated during his opening statement that the actor wasn’t facing drugging charges.

While the Church of Scientology was not a defendant in the case, the three women alleged Church officials and followers of the religion had played a part in discouraging them from reporting Masterson, who is a prominent member in the Church, to police when the incidents happened.

In her closing argument, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Ariel Anson said the three women had been silenced by church officials.

“Like all predators, the defendant carefully out out his prey,” Anson said, according to the Los AngelesTimes. “Most of his victims are members of the Church of Scientology, and that makes sense. The church tells his victims: ‘Rape isn’t rape. You cause this. And above all, you can’t go to law enforcement.’”

Masterson will be sentenced at a later date and could face between 45 years and life in prison.

During the second trial, which ran a little over two weeks, focus was placed on the allegations of Masterson drugging women.

Each of the women, including a “prior bad act” witness who testified she met Masterson at a party in Toronto in 2000— testified they became nauseous after ingesting drinks handed to them by the actor.

In his closing argument, Cohen pointed to discrepancies from the women’s testimony on the stand compared to statements they had made to police. He added prosecutors had no evidence the women were drugged by his client.

Bixler claimed the actor was emotionally and sexually abusive. She said Masterson raped her in his Hollywood Hills home in November 2001 and had refused to stop when she told him she didn’t want to have sex.

N. Trout also testified Masterson attacked her at his home after a night of drinking with friends. Prosecutors said Masterson raped N. Trout so viciously that she threw up in her moth and begged Masterson to at least use a condom.

Jen B., who was born into a Scientology family, testified she was part of Masterson’s circle of friends, which included Lisa Marie Presley.

She testified she went to Masterson’s home in April 2003 to pick up a set of keys. After she drank a drink offered by the actor, Jen B. said she became sick. She said Masterson carried her upstairs into his bathroom where he touched her breasts, but she was too weak to stop him.

Jen B. said Masterson then raped her in his bedroom. She recalled Masterson grabbed a gun from his nightstand and threatened her. She filed a police report in 2004 but Masterson was never arrested. She then went back to authorities in 2016.

In his closing argument, Cohen implied Jen B. made up her testimony about Masterson brandishing a gun, and said N. Trout also embellished being drugged by the actor.

Masterson was eventually charged on June 17, 2020 for the rapes.