Danny Masterson trial on rape allegations begins this week

The rape trial for former “That ‘70s Star” Danny Masterson begins this week.

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Masterson faces three charges of forcible rape. The counts carry a possible sentence of 45 years to life.

Three women accused Masterson of raping them in the early 2000s, The Associated Press reported. He was arrested in 2020 after a multi-year investigation and posted bond shortly after his arrest.

At the time of his arrest, his attorney Tom Mesereau said Masterson was innocent and “we’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify,” the AP reported in June 2020.

The three women, as well as Masterson, were members of the Church of Scientology at the time of the alleged rapes.

However, Judge Charlaine Olmedo said last week that the trial would not be one on Scientology. The judge will allow some testimony about the religion and practices that may explain why the women waited a decade to report the alleged attacks to the police, Variety reported. The women said last year that reporting what they said happened could violate the church’s rules and force them to be cut off from the community.

One of Masterson’s lawyers, Sharon Appelbaum, said the women formed a “sisterhood” to bring down both the actor and the church, citing actress and former Scientologist Leah Remini, who examined the case in her documentary for A&E.

Jury selection for the trial was scheduled to start Tuesday in Los Angeles, Variety reported.

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