That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson (The Ranch, Yes Man) was in court this past Tuesday, according to an Associated Press (AP) article. In a report appearing on ABC7-Los Angeles’ site, Masterson and his lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, appeared in a preliminary hearing where a woman detailed her account of her alleged rape by Masterson in 2003.
According to the AP article, Masterson, 45, has been charged with three counts of rape by force or fear stemming from alleged attacks that occurred in 2001 and 2003. The three women have also filed a civil suit against Masterson, which also includes the Church of Scientology, accusing them of alleged harassment.
The Associated Press reports the alleged victim – who identified herself as Jen B. – claimed the alleged attack occurred the evening of April 25, 2003. She allegedly knew Masterson as they both belonged to a group of friends who were all members of the Church of Scientology. Jen B. states she allegedly visited his house to pick up a set of keys on the evening in question.
According to the Associated Press, Jen B. requested a mixed drink which Masterson allegedly gave her. Soon after, she allegdly began to feel weak and detailed feeling “blurry.” She then alleges that Masterson placed her in his jacuzzi. Once she was out of the jacuzzi, she allegedly struggled to sit up and claimed a friend had to assist her in gaining her bearings. She claims she was unable to walk or stand when Masterson allegedly picked her up and allegedly took her to an upstairs bathroom.
Jen. B claims she vomited in the bathroom, something Masterson allegedly ridiculed her for doing. She then alleges Masterson placed her in the shower and allegedly began wiping her bare breasts with soap. She testified her efforts to fight him off failed as she was too weak to put up any resistance. After the shower, she alleges Masterson took her into a nearby bedroom and allegedly raped her. Jen B. claimed she only remembers fleeting moments of the alleged attack as she was in and out of consciousness.
“When I came to, he was on top of me and he was inside of me,” said Jen B. via the article. “The first thing I recall is grabbing his hair to pull him off,” Jen B. claimed via the article. She also alleges Masterson drew a gun on her in a threatening manner. Days later, Jen B. claimed she had bruises on her neck and wrists along with stabbing pains around her genitalia and anus. When attempting to report the alleged attack, Jen B. stated leaders of the Church of Scientology allegedly discouraged her from going to the police. The church has a policy against members reporting other high-standing members. Jen B. stated she ignored the warnings and a year later went to the police in June 2004.
According to the AP article, Mesereau attempted to shine doubt on Jen B.’s alleged account of events, asking her why the gun was not included in her initial report to the police. This line of questioning was blocked by Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo after the prosecution’s objection. Prior to this hearing, Mesereau attempted to ban any references of the church from the hearing citing the remarks as “religious bias.” Olmedo did not issue an absolute ban on the church’s treatment of the alleged victims but would allow the witnesses to only describe how the church may have affected their mental state.
Masterson was fired from his role on Netflix’s The Ranch in 2017 as the accusations were made public.