00:00That 70s show star Danny Masterson has been charged with raping three women.
00:05Masterson was charged on Wednesday by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office with three counts of rape by force or fear.
00:12According to authorities, the alleged separate incidents occurred between 2001 and 2003.
00:18The actor is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman between January and December of 2001,
00:23a 28-year-old woman in April of 2003, and according to authorities, a 23-year-old woman who he had invited to his Hollywood Hills home sometime between October and December of 2003.
00:35Masterson was arrested Wednesday at 11.30 a.m. according to jail records, and his bond was set at $3.3 million.
00:42However, according to records, he bonded out at 2.44 p.m. the very same day.
00:47In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Masterson's lawyer insisted his client was innocent, saying,
00:52We're confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light, and witnesses have the opportunity to testify.
00:59Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock, considering that these nearly 20-year-old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed.
01:08But they and their family are comforted, knowing that ultimately, the truth will come out.
01:12The people who know Mr. Masterson knows his character and know the allegations to be false.
01:17Los Angeles police began investigating Masterson over sexual assault claims in 2017.
01:23The actor played Stephen Hyde on That 70s Show, which ran from 1998 to 2006.
01:28He also starred alongside his 70s show castmate Ashton Kutcher in the Netflix series The Ranch.
01:33Masterson has been married to actress Bijou Phillips since 2011.
01:37If convicted as charged, the actor faces a possible maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.
01:43For more updates to this story, head to the article on THR.com.
01:46For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Neha Joy.
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