A rape trial for actor and North Shore native Danny Masterson has ended with jurors deadlocked on a verdict and a Los Angeles judge declaring a mistrial Wednesday.
Masterson, who grew up in East Williston and Garden City, faced three counts of rape involving separate women who have accused Masterson of assaulting them in 2001 and 2003.
The “That 70’s Show” star was originally charged in 2020 and released on $3.3 million bail. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A retrial is scheduled for March 27, 2023.
In 2017, Masterson was fired from Netflix’s “The Ranch” amid sexual assault allegations.
Opening arguments began on Oct. 18 with deliberations beginning on Nov. 15. Masterson did not testify during the proceedings.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said after the mistrial was declared that “we will now consider our next steps as it relates to prosecuting this case” in a statement.
“While we are disappointed with the outcome in this trial, we thank the jurors for their service,” the DA’s office said. “We also want to give our heartfelt appreciation to the victims for bravely stepping forward and recounting their harrowing experiences.”
Philip Cohen, Masterson’s lawyer, said: “The vote count says it all, and it is a true testament to our justice system that the jurors were able to see through all the inflammatory noise and focus solely on what was truly important,” The New York Times reported
Efforts to reach Masterson’s representatives were unavailing.
The Church of Scientology, of which Masterson is a member, reportedly played a significant role in the case against the actor, whose credits include the sitcom “Men at Work” and the 2008 Jim Carrey comedy “Yes Man.”
All three women who accused Masterson are former Scientologists, according to Deadline.
One of the accusers, known only as Jen. B, said she was assaulted by Masterson as she went in and out of consciousness in 2003, according to the Los Angeles Times. Jen. B detailed on the stand a party she attended in 2003 where she was offered a drink by Masterson.
She said she felt nauseous later in the night and was moved by Masterson to his bed after he made her vomit and take a shower, the Los Angeles Times reported.
She testified that she passed out in his bed before waking up to Masterson raping her, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Jane Doe #3, known as CB, said she was in a relationship with Masterson for six years, according to Deadline.
“I was sleeping, I woke up and he was having sex with me and I didn’t want to. … I told him I didn’t want to have sex, and he wouldn’t stop,” Jane Doe #3, aka CB, said of the encounter at their Hollywood Hills home,” reported Deadline.
The third woman in the trial, identified as N. Trout, said Masterson raped her in 2003 after he told her in a text message to come over to his Los Angeles home. She told the court that she made it clear that the two would not be having sex.
Efforts to reach Masterson’s representatives were unavailing.
