Actor Danny Masterson charged with raping 3 women

LOS ANGELES — Actor Danny Masterson was charged Wednesday with raping three women between 2001 and 2003, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced.

Masterson, 44, faces a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in prison if convicted on all three forcible rape counts.

According to Variety, Masterson was arrested Wednesday morning and is being held on a $3.3 million bond.

His arraignment is set for Sept. 18, the district attorney’s office confirmed.

The former “That 70s Show” actor is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman in 2001, a 28-year-old woman in April 2003, and another 23-year-old woman in late 2003.

Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller of the Sex Crimes Division, who is prosecuting the case, said all of the alleged crimes occurred at the defendant’s Hollywood Hills home.

The district attorney’s office declined to prosecute Masterson in two other cases, citing an expired statute of limitations in one case and insufficient evidence in the other.

Masterson’s attorney, Tom Mesereau, issued the following statement vowing to fight the charges:

“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. 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.”

Although Masterson has denied vehemently the allegations, which first surfaced in late 2016, he was dropped in December 2017 by the Netflix series “The Ranch” as the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal swept Hollywood, Variety reported.

Cox Media Group