Danny Masterson Sexual Assault Trial Declared a Mistrial After Jury Is Unable to Reach a Verdict
Actor Danny Masterson‘s sexual assault trial was declared a mistrial on Wednesday, with the jury unable to reach a unanimous verdict on three criminal counts after several days of deliberations.
The jurors informed L.A. Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo on Wednesday afternoon that they were “deeply divided” and could not reach a verdict, per our sister site Deadline, and the judge shortly thereafter formally declared a mistrial. Masterson faced up to 45 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.
Masterson, known for his work on That ’70s Show and The Ranch, was charged with three counts of rape by force or fear in June 2020, regarding separate incidents of sexual assault against three women that allegedly occurred at Masterson’s home between 2001 and 2003. Masterson pleaded not guilty to all three charges in 2021, and the trial got underway on Oct. 19 of this year; Masterson declined to testify during the proceedings.
On Nov. 18, after nearly three days of deliberations, the jury told Olmedo that it could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the three counts against Masterson. Olmedo said at the time that the jurors had not deliberated long enough to declare a mistrial and ordered deliberations to resume after the Thanksgiving holiday. Then, on Nov. 28, two jurors were replaced by alternates after testing positive for COVID-19, and Olmedo instructed the new panel to start their deliberations over, “as if the earlier deliberations had not taken place,” per Variety.
In 2017, Netflix fired Masterson from The Ranch after he was accused of raping four women in the early 2000s. During the show’s Part 5 finale, his character, Rooster Bennett, was threatened at gunpoint and forced to leave town; Rooster was later killed off in a freak motorcycle accident in Part 6.
“I am obviously very disappointed in Netflix’s decision to write my character off of The Ranch,” Masterson said in a statement at the time. “From Day 1, I have denied the outrageous allegations against me. Law enforcement investigated these claims more than 15 years ago and determined them to be without merit… In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, in the current climate, it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused. I understand and look forward to clearing my name once and for all.”
I truly hope that he is retried.
Why? Do you have proof either way?
Sounds like the retrial is set for March
Where did you hear that? The only thing I’ve read is a hearing is scheduled in January to determine if the court will grant a retrial. The prosecution is going to have to argue the chances of a conviction versus the cost and resources to the court and I’m sure Danny’s lawyers will argue to dismiss the case.
The retrial is set for March, but short of more evidence it’s probably not going to be the result you seem to want – if the jurors had doubts, the evidence clearly doesn’t prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
And it wasn’t 1 or 2 jurors either – There were 3 charges, and reportedly the jurors voted 10-2 against conviction on the first charge, 8-4 against conviction on the second and 7-5 against conviction on the third.
Personally, I’d argue that with those numbers it’d be a waste of resources to retry the first charge unless there was additional evidence, though retrying the other 2 would probably be justified.
I hope he starts suing if he’s not convicted at retrial. He’s already been punished, unconstitutionally – the allegations have cost him millions in lost income and legal fees, not to mention damage to his reputation, despite never being convicted of a crime.
I wouldn’t recommend he sue. In fact, it’s likely the women will sue if he’s not convicted. The burden of proof is far lighter in civil cases. If they can get him held accountable civilly than they can declare him guilty in some sense. If even a civil jury doesn’t find for them though I would argue he should get his life and career back. It’s innocent until proven guilty. If Danny goes through 2 trials with no convictions and a civil suit with a no-fault judgement then he should be allowed to work and move on with his life. Unfortunately, in this era, even if a man is found not guilty, he is convicted in the court of public opinion & his life is never the same. I would support his return to showbiz if he’s not found guilty.
May justice — and the victims – prevail in the new March trial. Maybe Danny Masterson and fellow Hollywood “alleged” serial rapist, Eric Weinberg, will end up in the same maximum security prison and can work together *again*. Naturally, their prison productions will have to be improv (yes, and…) because the word “No” isn’t in the vocabulary of these sexual predators.
Based on the jury votes, justice will be served with Masterson getting his name back. There’s clearly nowhere close to enough evidence to convict him.
It’s pretty gross that you think he’s guilty when the evidence shows otherwise.
It is sad that absolutely no one is innocent until PROVEN guilty.
Ok Scientologist bob smith lol.
Ok ignoramous Jojo
I read the breakdown of this decision. It’s not good news for the prosecution. Most people were assuming the deadlock was 1-2 jurors voting Not Guilty. In reality there were more jurors voting Not Guilty than Guilty on all counts. The prosecution has its work cut out for them if the jurors were this divided. They can’t keep doing retrials. If the next jury is as dead locked I’m not sure the court will grant a retrial for a 3rd time.
I’m very pleased with this result.
First charge: 10 voted against conviction
Second charge: 8 voted against conviction
Third charge: 7 voted against conviction
Unless they get some more evidence a retrial is a waste of time and taxpayer money.
You have got to be kidding! No doubt the church got to some of these jury members. I feel so bad for the survivors, who’ve been through hell. I hope, at the very least, he never has a career in film again.
“No doubt the church got to some of these jury members.”
You’re what’s wrong with our justice system and I hope you never serve. It’s clear you don’t care about things like evidence. Instead of conspiracy theories, it’s much more likely that the jurors did their duty and found that the prosecution failed to prove its case.
The whole American justice system is a joke! The fact that 12 people without any legal education whatsoever, have to decide if somone is innocent or guilty, is completely ridiculous!
It is by far the most fair way to determine someone’s innocence or guilt. Jurors don’t need a legal education if everyone else, defense, prosecution, judges, do.
And that’s besides the point of assuming guilt based on accusations, which has been done here.
Be better.
I dont know the dude. but im sure his friends do. Could he do it or didnt..People close to him know.
If he did. Hes a sob and should recieve desame ”entertainment” in us jail. and keep saying no….
And if he didn’t, which now seems very likely, he should get his life back and you will hopefully learn to not assume guilt.