The rape trial of Danny Masterson , who starred as Steven Hyde in That ’70s Show , has ended — for the time being.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo declared a mistrial after jurors acknowledged that they were “not even close to coming to a unanimous decision.” This means that court proceedings will pause for the time being, with Judge Olmedo announcing a retrial date of March 27. Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller said that a decision on whether the case will be retried will come following discussions with his legal team and witnesses.
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Four Women Accused Masterson Of Raping Them
Three women — a former girlfriend, an actor, and a woman who knew Masterson’s assistant — reported that Masterson raped them in the early 2000s, prompting an LAPD investigation. A fourth woman offered testimony that Masterson raped her as well, although her case wasn’t part of the trial.
Core to the prosecution’s case was the claim that Masterson’s status within the Church of Scientology allowed him to act with impunity. The three women at the center of the trial were all Scientologists at the time the alleged assaults took place.
Masterson’s Accusers Say He Stalked Them
The four women who accused Masterson of raping them later filed an additional lawsuit against Masterson and the Church of Scientology, alleging that their pets had been mysteriously injured and that various Scientologists had engaged in stalking behavior at Masterson’s behest.
Masterson Has Denied All Allegations
Masterson, who didn’t take the stand during the month-long trial, has maintained his innocence throughout the process. In a 2019 statement to People magazine, he said of one of the complainants:
The Next Steps Remain Unknown
While the judge has set a retrial date, it isn’t yet known if the prosecution will retry the case. If the case rests, it’ll be a big win for Masterson and for the Church of Scientology.
Masterson’s career in Hollywood has come to a virtual standstill since the allegations surfaced. While most of his That ’70s Show co-stars are slated to appear in its ’90s-set reboot, is not listed in the series cast.
