Actor Danny Masterson has been found guilty of two counts of sexual assault. According to the Associated Press, Masterson was led out of a Los Angeles courtroom in handcuffs after he was found guilty of two out of three charges of assault at his second trial. Masterson, best known for his role as Steven Hyde on That 70s Show, pled not guilty to assaulting three different women. These alleged incidents occurred at the 47-year-old home between 2001 and 2003. Two of those charges have now been confirmed by a jury. Masterson, whose character has not been mentioned in That 90s Show, is being held without bail. The actor faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life.
Actor Danny Masterson Guilty of 2 out of 3 Sexual Assault Charges
Danny Masterson has been found guilty of two out of three assault charges. According to People Magazine, the third allegation resulted in a hung jury. Eight to four jurors voted in favor of convicting Masterson for forcing himself on a long-time girlfriend. Masterson reportedly did not react much in response to the verdict. Meanwhile, the actor’s family members were fighting back tears. The actor’s wife, Bijou Phillips, began to cry. Masterson is currently in jail, where he will remain until the next hearing on August 4th.
Since the rise of the MeToo movement, which took off in a big way in 2017, numerous celebrities have been accused of severe sexual misconduct. Actors such as Warren Beatty and singers such as Nick Carter are among the many who have serious allegations and lawsuits against them. Perhaps the most notable figure in this issue is film producer Harvey Weinstein who is serving a 16-year sentence for numerous allegations of sexual assault.
While his That 70s Show character is often seen as a beloved hero, actor Danny Masterson’s guilty verdict will likely destroy his own legacy beyond repair.