Danny Masterson of “That ‘70s Show” is headed back to court to face three rape charges. Here’s how this trial will differ from the first …
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00:00A lead actor from That 70s Show is headed back to court to again face three rape charges.
00:05And this time his ties to the Church of Scientology could play a pivotal role.
00:08So why is the second trial being held?
00:10Rick can explain in less than 60 seconds.
00:12Danny Masterson, best known for playing Stephen Hyde in That 70s Show,
00:16is being accused by prosecutors of drugging and raping three women between 2001 and 2003.
00:21It's the second time Masterson has gone to court over the case.
00:24When it was tried late last year, it was declared a mistrial after the jury deadlocked on Audrey
00:29Counts.
00:29In this trial, however, the judge is allowing prosecutors to directly state that Masterson
00:34drugged the three women he's accused of raping.
00:36In the first trial, the judge only allowed prosecutors to imply that the accusers had
00:40been drugged through their testimonies.
00:42This time the judge will also allow expert testimonies on Scientology,
00:46a church that Masterson has been a longtime member of.
00:48The three accusers are former members of the church and claim that Scientology principles
00:52stopped them from initially reporting the crime to police.
00:55It found guilty Masterson could receive up to 45 years in prison.
00:59you