The ’70s show star Danny Masterson, 44, was charged with raping 3 women “by force or fear.” Incidents took place between 2001 and 2003, as reported by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office in a statement released by a news portal on Wednesday, June 17. If found guilty, Danny faces up to 45 years of life in state prison, the statement confirms.
The case was filed for a court order on Wednesday, June 17 and a court appearance is scheduled at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles on September 18.
Danny — who has also appeared in The Ranch and Men At Work — is accused of allegedly raping a 28-year-old woman in April 2003, a 23-year-old woman from January to December 2001, and a 23-year-old woman from October to December 2003.
The Deputy District Attorney confirmed that all cases took place at the Hollywood Hills home of Masterson. Danny tied the knot with fellow Scientologist Bijou Phillips, 40, in 2011, and in 2014 the pair welcomed their daughter Fianna Francis, now 6.
In a statement, Danny’s lawyer Tom Mesereau said, “Mr. Masterson is 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.” He continued, “Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out. The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false.”
The Los Angeles District Attorney noted in the statement that, due to the time limit in one case and insufficient evidence in the next, they did not file charges in two other cases. Danny has been under investigation since 2014, during the Me Too Movement, and was let go of his Netflix series The Ranch in Dec. 2017.