Choose: 3 accusers can speak at actor Danny Masterson’s rape sentencing
By COURT TV Workers and CRYSTAL BONVILLIAN
LOS ANGELES (Courtroom TV) — Three of the ladies who accused “That ’70s Present” star Danny Masterson of rape will probably be allowed to speak at his sentencing on Thursday.
Masterson, 47, was discovered responsible of two counts of forcible rape throughout his retrial in Might. Jurors have been unable to agree on the same cost involving the third girl, a former longtime girlfriend of Masterson.
The actor, who left the courtroom in handcuffs after the responsible verdict, is dealing with 30 years to life in jail.
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Actor Danny Masterson is pictured in a March 24, 2014, file photograph. Masterson, 47, is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 7, 2023, on two counts of forcible rape. (Annie I. Bang/Invision/AP, File)
At an August courtroom listening to, Los Angeles County prosecutors argued that three extra alleged Masterson victims must be allowed to offer sufferer impression statements at the Sept. 7 sentencing due to the “nice societal curiosity” their phrases might have.
Two of the three girls have been beforehand allowed to testify in courtroom below California legislation, which permits testimony a few defendant’s “previous sexual misconduct, alleged and in any other case, when they’re at present on trial for a intercourse crime.” Masterson has by no means been charged with assaulting these girls.
All his alleged victims advised comparable tales, saying Masterson gave them drinks that made them really feel sick and lose consciousness. A number of the victims stated they recalled snippets of the next sexual assaults, whereas others stated they woke up to seek out that they had been raped.
The three incidents for which Masterson was tried passed off between 2001 and 2003 at his Hollywood Hills dwelling.
Deputy District Legal professional Reinhold Mueller indicated that permitting all six girls to speak at Masterson’s sentencing would “not solely be a therapeutic” for them however might “resonate with different victims of sexual assault which might be on the market.”
Masterson’s protection attorneys argued, nevertheless, that Mueller’s reasoning was “inappropriate” and that solely the 2 girls whom their consumer was discovered responsible of raping must be allowed to speak.
Superior Courtroom Choose Charlaine Olmedo stated the courtroom does have some discretion in who it permits to speak out as victims — however that doesn’t essentially embody all intercourse assault survivors.
Jane Doe #3, who has publicly recognized herself as Chrissie Bixler, testifies within the rape trial of ex-boyfriend Danny Masterson on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, in Los Angeles. (Mona Shafer Edwards)
“I don’t imagine sentencing is the suitable discussion board for victims of sure crime to speak out on societal ills,” Olmedo stated.
The decide tentatively dominated that she would permit Masterson’s former girlfriend, beforehand recognized in courtroom as Chrissie B., to speak throughout sentencing, however granted the protection the chance to argue their opposition at a pre-sentencing listening to on Aug. 21.
Olmeda can also be anticipated to listen to arguments at that point on whether or not the cost involving Chrissie B. must be dismissed with or with out prejudice. Whether it is dismissed with out prejudice, that might permit prosecutors to retry Masterson on that rape cost, ought to they select to.
Chrissie B. and the 2 girls Masterson was convicted of raping met the actor via the Church of Scientology. All three have stated they reported the assaults to church officers, who they accuse of defending Masterson and discouraging them from reporting the crimes to the police.
Church officers have denied the allegations, as has Masterson.
Masterson’s first trial, which was held from Oct. 18 to Nov. 30, 2022, led to a mistrial. His retrial started April 24, and the jury convicted him of two of the three rape costs on Might 31.
