Danny Masterson Rape Trial: Woman Delivers Tearful Testimony

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Fighting through tears, a woman who accused actor Danny Masterson of raping her 18 years ago delivered an emotional testimony during a court hearing Tuesday. The 46-year-old woman told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo Masterson waved a pistol in her face while he raped her in April 2003.

The woman said she met Masterson in the late 1990s or early 2000s through religion and mutual friends. She said Masterson was initially pleasant, but that he grew increasingly "vulgar" after breaking up with his girlfriend, at one point exposing himself to her.

She said she had been to his home about 20 to 30 times before the night of the assault, and that on April 25, 2003, she went to his house to grab a set of keys. That night, she says Masterson gave her a drink mixed with drugs and vodka, leaving her so groggy she couldn't get out of the hot tub after Masterson threw her in.

After she started vomiting, she says Masterson took her back inside and told her to go into the shower to cleanup. The woman says she briefly lost consciousness before coming to her senses in the bathtub, where Masterson was fondling her exposed breasts.

"I pushed him in the chest," she said. "I couldn't believe his hands were on my breasts."

The woman said she tried to punch him, but was too weak to have an impact. She says the actor then put her on the bed and began to rape her, continuing on even as she pulled his hair and put a pillow in his face while floating in and out of consciousness.

At one point, she said Masterson took a gun out of his drawer, telling her not to move as he threatened her.

"I came to and he was on top of me and he was inside of me," the woman testified.

The woman said the assault left her with bruises, on her neck and wrists, along with an intense "stabbing" pain in her vagina. She said leaders from the Church of Scientology, with whom Masterson was in "good standing" and attended along with the victim, strongly encouraged her not to approach the Los Angeles Police Department with accusations.

More than a year after the alleged assault, she decided to go to the police and says she has since left the Church of Scientology.

Masterson was arrested last June 17 by the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division and released about three hours later on a $3.3 million bond. He was charged with three counts of felony rape at his home in the Hollywood Hills, and accused of raping three separate women in 2001, April 2003 and a third woman between October and December 2003.

Shortly after the charges were announced, Mesereau released a statement saying his client "is innocent, and we're confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify."

"Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year-old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out," Mesereau said then. "The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false."

Masterson pleaded not guilty to the charges in January.

In December 2017, Netflix announced that Masterson had been fired from the Emmy-winning scripted comedy "The Ranch" amid sexual assault allegations.

The actor said then that he was "very disappointed" and "it seems as if you are presumed guilty the moment you are accused." He also "denied the outrageous allegations" and said he looked forward to "clearing my name once and for all."

A civil suit was filed in August 2019 against Masterson and the Church of Scientology by four women who allege they were stalked and harassed after filing sexual assault allegations against the actor with Los Angeles police. That case has been sent to arbitration.

Masterson, best known for appearing on 'That '70's Show,' could face 45 years to life in state prison if convicted.

City News Service contributed to the report.