The jury considering criminal rape charges against “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson said Friday they were “unable to come to a unanimous decision” on all three counts, but the judge said he would hear them after a break. Will bring it back for further discussion. For the leave.
The jury began deliberations in earnest late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, but after more than two full days had passed, still were not aligned. The judge said there was not enough time for full deliberations, and she would call the panel back on November 28, meaning the courtroom would remain dark for the entire Thanksgiving holiday week.
Defense attorney Philip Cohen argued that the jury would visit with relatives and friends over the Thanksgiving break — a full 10 days to read and hear information about the case. But Judge Charlene Olmeda said it was not unusual for a jury to be recused, and her verdict would stand.
The jury’s note suggested that it was deadlocked on all three counts for which Masterson has been indicted. This is significant because in order to be convicted, he must have been convicted of at least two of the charged counts—California’s statute of limitations does not allow personal sexual assault charges to be that old to prosecute Masterson.
Members of Masterson’s family and a large contingent of well-dressed Scientologists had been awaiting the verdict since Wednesday morning. Masterson, who had been free on $3 million bail, was seen on benches outside the 9th floor courtroom with wife Bijou Phillips and family members; Once deliberations began, he was not wearing one of the ties he wears daily with the jury present in the courtroom.
On Wednesday morning, the jury of seven women and five men asked to see two items: a “degrees of guilt” chart presented by the defense, and the police report for Jane Doe 1. Since neither was entered into evidence, the judge denied their request, and they went home for the night.
Late Thursday morning, jurors asked to review a transcript of Jane Doe 1, also known at trial as JB, to confront her shortly after their encounter with Masterson from Florida. testifies under cross-examination about a phone call made to . After some wrangling with defense attorney Philip Cohen, Olmeida decided to read it back to the jury, who looked calm and composed as they regrouped in the courtroom.
Closing arguments began Tuesday, with prosecutors wrapping up more than a month of testimony by characterizing the “That ’70s Show” star as an “upstat” — a Scientology term for the church’s highest-ranking members — who accused young, vulnerable sexually assaulted women. By driving the bulldozer through clear boundaries, knowing his position will save him from the consequences.
Common threads run through the testimony of all four women: each said that Masterson was aggressive and commanding, that he had served them at least one alcoholic beverage prior to the attacks, and that he had sexually penetrated her without consent. Because they later drifted in and out of consciousness. Three of the women were Scientologists, including a former long-term girlfriend; Jane Doe 4, a non-accusing witness called at the 11th hour, was not.
Masterson’s defense team, which has upheld the actor’s claim that the relationship was entirely consensual, did not call any witnesses. And Masterson – who showed little or no emotion and often stared intently at witnesses as they spoke on the stand – did not testify.
Masterson was formally charged in 2020, but the allegations first surfaced in 2017 when a blogger covering Scientology informed of Detectives were probing the actor after three women came forward with allegations of rape and assault. Each of the women claimed they came into contact with Masterson through the Church of Scientology in the early 2000s, and were pressured into keeping quiet by church officials.
