'That 70s Show' actor Danny Masterson charged in 3 alleged rapes

[catbyte]

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser

LOS ANGELES >> “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson was charged with the rapes of three women in the early 2000s, Los Angeles prosecutors said today.

The three counts of rape by force or fear come after a three-year investigation of the 44-year-old Masterson. The charges were filed Tuesday and Masterson was arrested late this morning, jail records showed. He was being held on $3.3 million bail.

Masterson is charged with raping a 23-year-old woman in 2001, a 28-year-old woman in early 2003 and a 23-year-old woman in late 2003.

Masterson’s attorney Tom Mesereau said his client “is innocent, we’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify.”

Read more: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/06/17/breaking-news/that-70s-show-actor-danny-masterson-charged-in-3-rapes/

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Yikes.

[LizBeth]

1. Fucker.

[Beakybird]

2. Alleged fucker. That's pretty high bail though, and three victims is quite damning.

[catbyte]

4. Not to mention a 3-year-long investigation. It looks like they took their time.

BTW, isn't he one of Scientology's "celebrities?" I'll bet they drop him like a hot potato.

[rpannier]

6. He is a member. Which is probably why they took so much time

Given the history of Scientology and its harassment of detractors, they probably wanted to make it as iron clad as possible
My guess, they won't drop him, they'll pull out all stops to get him acquitted

[Baclava]

20. They were named as co-defendant in initial stalking case against him, protecting him

The Church of Scientology Says Danny Masterson Stalking Suit Must Go to "Religious Arbitration"

New court papers argue that four suing women consented to "ecclesiastical rule" and forever relinquished their right to sue.

The argument being made is that these women agreed to ecclesiastical justice procedures when they first committed to practice Scientology. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge is presented with their written agreements.

"Under the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the United States and California Constitutions the Church may establish its own rules governing its relationship with its members exempt from civil law," states a motion to compel religious arbitration. "The Church’s ecclesiastical arbitration is a condition of participating in Scientology services. This Court may not interfere with this condition by imposing civil rules for arbitration. The Church’s arbitration agreements, as written and agreed to, must be enforced."

"The U.S. and California Constitutions prohibit this Court from imposing civil concepts of due process when adjudicating disputes between a church and its members," states the motion. "Rather, a church’s procedures for addressing such disputes are all but unreviewable.... This Court may not impose its own notions of 'fairness' in deciding whether Plaintiffs’ agreements with the Church are fair or right. To do so would interfere with a Church’s rules over its members, which is clearly forbidden...."

As for procedural unconscionability, the Church's lawyers also make the case that the women were hardly forced into this situation.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/church-scientology-says-danny-masterson-stalking-suit-go-religious-arbitration-1268021

[Mr.Bill]

8. Roughly three times the bail of a cop accused of murder. n/t

[ret5hd]

3. The Scientology lawyers will bail him out.

[rpannier]

5. The members will begin stalking them and stealing their trash

[Initech]

7. Send him to Sea Org.

Or that one super-secret branch of Scientology that tortures members. Either way, fuck that guy.

[BigmanPigman]

9. Scientologists did stalk the victims, killed their dogs, etc.

Leah Remini did a show in Aug 2019 about the stalking of his victims by Scientology members. There were 5 victims originally. She thinks it took the LA police a while to investigate it due to the church.

[herding cats]

11. I was about to look this up because I thought I recalled such.

Thank you for saving me the time!

[BigmanPigman]

12. Here is the show where they discussed it...

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7hypip

It takes 30 seconds to load so be patient.

This organization is really fucked up!

[herding cats]

13. Thank you!

I appreciate the link!

[BigmanPigman]

14. It takes a while to load.

[herding cats]

15. I'd forgotten how bad that one was.

At the end. "It's your job to serve your master." I wanted to scream!!

[BigmanPigman]

17. The way they go about silencing and enabling everyone

reminds me of the tRump admin. It all comes down to power and money (to protect men for the most part). I can't even call them a "church".

[herding cats]

18. True.

It's a science fiction based scam. It's mind boggling it's worked this long. Cults, including Trump's, are scary as hell!

[melm00se]

10. Masterson has had

rumors of being a sexual predator for quite some time.

[herding cats]

16. They truly need to bust the veil of cover over Scientologists open

They've been getting away with flagrant crimes, especially if they're famous or mega money makers for the cause. It's disgusting and deeply illegal.

[lapfog_1]

19. back when celebrities were playing Texas Holdem

He would frequent some of the bigger games and tournaments (along with Jennifer Tilly, Laura Prepon, and James Woods)... and he stood out as having a reputation of being a complete asshole at the poker table.

I never played at the same table with him... but I knew many of the top players back then and that is what they told me.

[FakeNoose]

21. I had trouble remembering which character he played

He was Steven, the goofy friend.