In a stunning turn of events, Danny Masterson has been found guilty on the majority of the three counts against him in his rape retrial. The verdict was read out in court, and Masterson was immediately deemed a flight risk by Judge Charlaine Olemdo. Despite the pleas of his lawyers, the actor was cuffed and taken into custody with a dazed look on his face. Masterson is now facing 30 years behind bars on the two counts he was found guilty of. However, the jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict on sexual assault charges against Masterson, similar to the first trial that ended late last year.
The courtroom was packed with Masterson’s family, friends, and legal team, who were openly crying after the verdict was read out. His wife Bijou Phillips could be heard crying in the courtroom, while his brother-in-law Billy Baldwin and other family members stayed in the courtroom in an obvious state of shock.
The retrial began on April 24 and wrapped on May 12 with the defense calling no witnesses. Closing arguments started on May 16 and concluded early on May 17 with the final rebuttal delivered by Deputy LA County Attorney Reinhold Mueller before Judge Olemdo, Masterson and supporters, and the jury. Masterson has insisted he is not guilty and that sex with the Jane Does was consensual.
Despite the guilty verdict, the jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision on all three rape counts against Masterson. The last count involved Jane Doe #3 a.k.a Christina B, a former long term girlfriend of the defendant. The L.A. County District Attorney’s office has been criticized for their handling of the case, with the jury foreperson acknowledging that after five votes, the panel was “hopelessly deadlocked” on the third count with a breakdown of eight guilty and four not guilty at last count.
The next hearing on motions in the matter has been scheduled for August 4, and a sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Masterson, who was free until today on bail of $3 million, was arrested in 2020 over the alleged assaults that occurred between 2001 and 2003 in his Hollywood Hills house. The actor faced up to 45 years in a California state prison if found guilty on all three rape counts in this retrial.
