A judge in the Los Angeles County Superior Court declared a mistrial in the actor Danny Masterson‘s rape trial after jurors failed to reach a verdict.
In 2020, Masterson was accused of allegedly raping three women forcibly in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003.
IN MEMORIAM 2022: 100 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED THIS YEAR!
“While we are disappointed with the outcome in this trial, we thank the jurors for their service,” said a spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office in a statement. “We also want to give our heartfelt appreciation to the victims for bravely stepping forward and recounting their harrowing experiences. We also are thankful for the hard work of the prosecution team and we will now consider our next steps as it relates to prosecuting this case.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo declared that the jurors failed to reach a unanimous vote on any of the three rape charges after weeks of deliberation and were “hopelessly deadlocked.”
Masterson has been accused by multiple women in March 2017 of raping them in the early 2000s. However, he continually denied the allegations.
“Mr. Masterson is innocent,” said Tom Mesereau, Masterson’s attorney after his arrest in 2020. “We’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify.”
