Danny Masterson Charged With 'Forcibly Raping Three Women'

Danny Masterson has been charged with raping three women, over three years after police first launched the investigation.

According to Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey, The Ranch alum has been charged with “forcibly raping three women” between 2001 and 2003. His arrangement is set for September 18 in the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles.

The D.A.’s office states that the actor is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001, raping a 28-year-old woman in April 2003, and raping a 23-year-old woman whom he invited into his Hollywood Hills home in between October and December of 2003.

The case was filed for warrant yesterday, and Masterson was charged with three counts of rape by force or fear. The District Attorney’s Office didn’t file sex assault charges against Masterson in two other cases because of insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations for the alleged crime.

Police opened the investigation in 2017 after three women accused Masterson of sexual assault and rape. Eight months later, the Scientologist was fired from his Netflix sitcom The Ranch, but still wasn’t charged — despite the “overwhelming” evidence against him.

Last August, one of Masterson’s accusers claimed that law enforcement had “more than enough” evidence to charge and convict the That ‘70s Show alum, yet the case has been sitting at the D.A.’s office for almost a year collecting dust.

The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said:

“Charges have been approved all the way up the chain at the LADA’s office since last September. We’ve been told that there is more than enough evidence to not only charge him but to also get a conviction by multiple people. Yet here we are going into July 2019 and our case sits on head DA Jackie Lacey’s desk.”

Around the same time, four of Masterson’s accusers said that the actor, the Church of Scientology, and Scientology leader David Miscavige stalked them, invaded their privacy, and conspired to obstruct justice.

Masterson denied any wrongdoing, telling press:

“I’m not going to fight my ex-girlfriend in the media like she’s been baiting me to do for more than two years. I will beat her in court—and look forward to it because the public will finally be able learn the truth and see how I’ve been railroaded by this woman.”

Sounds like police have since found a different truth. If convicted, the star faces a possible maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.

What do U think will come of this case, Perezcious readers?

[Image via FayesVision/WENN]