Danny Masterson, a former actor who was convicted of raping two women, failed to turn over nine firearms that he owned as part of his bail conditions, according to a report by Rolling Stone. The judge gave Masterson’s lawyers until Dec. 7 to locate the guns or face a court-ordered search of his properties.
One of the victims, Jane Doe #1, told Rolling Stone that she was very upset and scared that the guns were missing, and that she feared for her safety and the safety of other victims. “I’m scared. I’m scared for myself. I’m scared for the other victims. I’m scared for anyone who comes in contact with him and those guns,” she said.
Masterson, who starred in the sitcoms That ’70s Show and The Ranch, was sentenced on Sept. 15, 2023, after a jury found him guilty of raping Jane Doe #1 in 2001 and Jane Doe #2 in 2003. He was given 30 years to life in prison, but he is appealing his conviction and sentence.
Masterson’s lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, said that his client was innocent and that he would be exonerated on appeal. “We are confident that Mr. Masterson will be exonerated on appeal and that his name will be cleared,” he said.
However, the victims and the prosecutors are not convinced by Masterson’s claims of innocence. Jane Doe #2 said that Masterson was a “convicted rapist who was just sentenced to 30 years to life in prison” and questioned why he still had access to guns. Jane Doe #3, who also testified against Masterson but was not part of the charges, said that she had no idea where the guns were and that they could be in the hands of someone who wanted to harm them or anyone else who spoke out against him.
Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller, who prosecuted the case, said that Masterson’s failure to surrender his firearms was a “blatant violation of the court’s order and a slap in the face to the victims and the justice system.” He said that he would seek the maximum penalty for Masterson if he did not comply with the judge’s order.
The victims also expressed their gratitude to the jury and the judge for delivering justice and holding Masterson accountable for his crimes. They said that they hoped that their case would inspire other survivors of sexual assault to come forward and seek help. “We are not alone. We are not powerless. We are not silenced,” Jane Doe #1 said.
Relevant articles:
– Danny Masterson Failed to Turn Over Nine Firearms, Leaving Jane Does ‘Scared’, Rolling Stone, 11/13/2023
– Danny Masterson Hasn’t Surrendered All His Firearms and His Victims Are ‘Scared’: Report, The Messenger, 11/14/2023
– Danny Masterson Accused of Failing to Turn Over Nine Firearms, Judge Demands Answers, MSN, 11/13/2023
– The Victim Impact Statements At Danny Masterson’s Sentencing Emphasize Why Some Survivors Are Reluctant To Speak Out, Yahoo, 09/15/2023