What to Know About Danny Masterson’s Second Rape Trial
Opening arguments began on Monday in a retrial of the rape case against Danny Masterson, the actor known for his role in the sitcom “That ’70s Show,” nearly five months after the first trial ended in a deadlocked jury.
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. He has denied the allegations and has pleaded not guilty.
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. If convicted in the retrial, Masterson could face 45 years to life in prison.
What is different in the retrial?
The charges in the retrial in Los Angeles Superior Court are the same as in the first trial. 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.
Source: The New York Times
