Two women that are accusing actor and North Shore native Danny Masterson of rape have taken the stand this past week, detailing their experiences with the “That 70’s Show” star.
Masterson, who grew up in East Williston and Garden City, is standing trial on three counts of rape from separate women who have accused Masterson of assaulting them in 2001 and 2003.
One of the accusers, known only as Jen. B, said she was assaulted by Masterson as she went in and out of consciousness in 2003, according to the Los Angeles Times. Jen. B detailed on the stand a party she attended in 2003 where she was offered a drink by Masterson.
She said she felt nauseous later in the night and was moved by Masterson to his bed after he made her vomit and take a shower, the LA Times reported.
It was in his bed she said she passed out before waking up to Masterson raping her, she testified, according to the LA Times.
The Church of Scientology, of which Masterson is a member, has reportedly played a significant role in the case against the actor, whose credits include the sitcom “Men at Work” and the 2008 Jim Carrey comedy “Yes Man.”
“She [Jen. B] told jurors of how she feared the Church of Scientology and was pressured by its officials not to go to law enforcement with her allegations of rape against Masterson, a high-profile church member,” reported the LA Times.
All three women accusing Masterson are former scientologists, according to Deadline.
Jane Doe #3, known as CB, said she was in a relationship with Masterson for six years, according to Deadline.
“I was sleeping, I woke up and he was having sex with me and I didn’t want to. … I told him I didn’t want to have sex, and he wouldn’t stop,” Jane Doe #3, aka CB, said of the encounter at their Hollywood Hills home,” reported Deadline.
Masterson has pleaded not guilty and was released on a $3.3 million bail he posted last year.
The charges against the 46-year-old actor, who grew up in East Williston and Garden City, could result in up to 45 years in state prison if convicted, reports say.
The actor was seen last week attending the first day of the trial with members of his family and wife, according to ABC 7 News.
Thomas Mesereau is Masterson’s lead attorney and also represented Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson in their respective sexual misconduct cases.
Mesereau told the court that the three women and the witnesses in their respective cases were “tainted by anti-religious bias” against the secretive church, according to the AP.
The women involved in the case were all former members of the church, the outlet reported.
A woman identified as Christina B. reportedly said she was in a five-year relationship with Masterson at the time of the alleged rape in 2001. She told the court that she awoke to Masterson raping her one night and fought him off by pulling his hair, the report said.
The third woman in the trial, identified as N. Trout, said Masterson raped her in 2003 after he told her in a text message to come over to his Los Angeles home. She told the court that she made it clear that the two would not be having sex, the report said.
Masterson’s counsel countered her claims, saying she was aware her trip to the actor’s house would result in sex, according to the report. Masterson’s attorneys also claimed N. Trout was seeking a relationship with the actor at the time, which did not end up occurring, according to the report.
