Danny Masterson faces the music as jury convicts on two rape charges
Los Angeles, California - Actor Danny Masterson, best known for his role in That '70s Show, has been convicted on two counts of forcible rape.
The jury reached its verdict on Wednesday on two counts of rape, but could not reach a verdict on a third rape charge due to deadlocking in an 8-4 vote in favor of a guilty conviction.
Masterson now faces a potential sentence of 30 years to life in prison for the two charges he was convicted on.
According to Variety, Masterson's family audibly gasped when the guilty verdict was read, as they were seated in the gallery.
In closing arguments, prosecutor Ariel Anson called Masterson a "predator" who "carefully sought out his prey," adding that the Church of Scientology, which has been a focus point of the rape trial, "taught his victims that rape isn’t rape, that you cause this and above all you aren’t allowed to go to law enforcement."
The 47-year-old actor was accused of raping three women at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003. Though the jury convicted Masterson of raping two women in 2003, they could not reach a verdict for the 2001 rape allegation involving one of his ex-girlfriends.
Masterson's first trial in November ended with a hung jury, with the majority voting in favor of acquitting the actor on all three rape charges.
The next hearing is scheduled to take place August 4.
Cover photo: Collage: JASON MERRITT / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP