TV star Danny Masterson found guilty of two counts of rape

TV star Danny Masterson found guilty of two counts of rape

US TV star Danny Masterson has been found guilty of two counts of rape.

The actor, 47, faced accusations by three women that he raped them at his home in Hollywood Hills between 2001 and 2003.

At the time, Masterson was at the height of his fame – starring alongside Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis in the hit US sitcom That ’70s Show.

Two of the women, who knew Masterson through the Church of Scientology, claimed the actor drugged them before the sex attacks.

A third woman, a former girlfriend of Masterson, and also part of the Church of Scientology, alleged that she was raped by the TV star during the course of their relationship.

The actor denied the allegations, claiming the sex was consensual.

Lawyers for Masterson – who was not charged with any drugging offenses – also told the jury that there was no toxicology evidence to back up the spiking claims.

On Wednesday, at a court in Los Angeles, the actor was found guilty of two counts of rape by a jury, on a majority verdict of 8-4.

The jury could not reach a verdict in the third count, relating to the allegations made by Masterson’s former girlfriend.

Masterson, who was led away from the court in handcuffs after the verdicts, could face 30 years to life in prison.

His wife, actor and model Bijou Phillips, wept as he was led away.

The verdicts come after Masterson faced a retrial over the allegations. The previous trial ended in December with the jury unable to reach a verdict.

The trial heard that Masterson met all three of his victims through the Church of Scientology.