American actor Danny Masterson was said to have raped three women nearly 20 years ago, when he was the actor of “That ‘70s Show”. After three days of dramatic and often emotional testimony from the three women, a judge on Friday found that he must stand trial.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo ordered Masterson to stand trial on three rape charges by force or fear, charges that could get him up to 45 years in prison.
The court judge found the women’s testimony credible for the purposes of the preliminary hearing, where the bar for sufficient evidence is significantly lower than it will be at the forthcoming trial.
Masterson has pleaded not guilty to those charges. His lawyers said they would prove his innocence. During the hearing, the lawyers repeatedly challenged the women on discrepancies in stories they alleged the accusers had coordinated in the years since their alleged rapes. The lawyers believe accurate memories are impossible because the incidents happened almost two decades ago.
The trial will represent the rare prosecution of a Hollywood figure in the #MeToo era despite dozens of investigations by police and the Los Angeles district attorney, most of which have ended without charges.
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