Danny Masterson second criminal trial

Danny Masterson of “That ‘70s Show” is headed back to court to face three rape charges. Here’s how this trial will differ from the first …

Transcript

00:00A lead actor from That 70s Show is headed back to court to again face three rape charges.

00:05And this time his ties to the Church of Scientology could play a pivotal role.

00:08So why is the second trial being held?

00:10Rick can explain in less than 60 seconds.

00:12Danny Masterson, best known for playing Stephen Hyde in That 70s Show,

00:16is being accused by prosecutors of drugging and raping three women between 2001 and 2003.

00:21It's the second time Masterson has gone to court over the case.

00:24When it was tried late last year, it was declared a mistrial after the jury deadlocked on Audrey

00:29Counts.

00:29In this trial, however, the judge is allowing prosecutors to directly state that Masterson

00:34drugged the three women he's accused of raping.

00:36In the first trial, the judge only allowed prosecutors to imply that the accusers had

00:40been drugged through their testimonies.

00:42This time the judge will also allow expert testimonies on Scientology,

00:46a church that Masterson has been a longtime member of.

00:48The three accusers are former members of the church and claim that Scientology principles

00:52stopped them from initially reporting the crime to police.

00:55It found guilty Masterson could receive up to 45 years in prison.

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