Danny Masterson’s rape retrial has been pushed back to early April

Danny Masterson will face a retrial on multiple rape charges a little later than originally scheduled

In a downtown hearing Wednesday, L.A. Superior Court Judge Charlene Olmedo ordered that the second criminal trial begin April 11 with jury selection.

Originally scheduled for March 29, today’s trial step was to accommodate potential witnesses. Several hearings have been scheduled for the case, including a motion hearing on March 27 and 28, before the trial begins.

A pre-sentence hearing in Harvey Weinstein’s LA rape trial was underway down the hall, and the now-incarcerated former scrub EP Eric Weinberg was set elsewhere in the building to receive a preliminary hearing date in his multiple sex-offense cases, today’s hearing for Ex. That 70s show The Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center star did not see Masterson in person in court.

After his first criminal trial ended in a deadlocked jury on November 30, 2022, and after more than five weeks of tough testimony from prosecution witnesses, the second trial was quickly set to begin in late March, but it was always said to be more pencil than ink. seems Inside.

Jane Doe’s trio, all former Scientologists, who testified over the past few days, are all expected to take the stand again this spring.

Although not called as a witness in the first trial by the LA County District Attorney’s Office due to judicial limitations and what she could not testify, former high profile Scientologist Lisa Marie Presley was widely expected to be called for the second trial. Of course, regardless of what Rock Zion may or may not reveal about the inner workings of the David Miscavige-led church, regarding allegations that they tried to cover up rape claims against Scientologist Masterson more than 20 years ago, Presley died in January. 12 Now all that makes a key point.

First arrested in 2020 on charges of rape that took place between 2001 and 2003 at his Hollywood Hills home, Masterson faces up to 45 years in state prison if convicted of all rape charges in his first trial. actor, who was quickly fired from the Netflix comedy Ranch In late 2017 the attack claims became known and dropped That 90s show Revival, has always said that sex with Jane Doe was consensual.

Appearing daily for the first trial and subsequent jury deliberations and expected to remain in the courtroom for the second trial, Masterson remains free on $3.3 million bail.

The actor is also currently fighting a long-delayed 2019 civil lawsuit from Jane Duce and others over claims of harassment and more by Masterson and the Church of Scientology after the plaintiffs went to the LAPD and others.

Today’s hearing comes just one week after the civil suit against Masterson and Scientology both sides agreed to continue the suspension pending a second criminal trial against the actor. However, plaintiffs represented by Boies Schiller Flexner LLP made clear in a Feb. 1 filing and a Feb. 7 hearing that they will move to vacate the position in and around early summer of this year, regardless of the outcome of Masterson’s retrial.

It’s a position that the Church and the actor disagree with, to say the least.

Having played a prominent role in the prosecution’s case in the first criminal trial, Scientology, its principles and influence are sure to come up again and again in the second trial — and the defense is sure to object again and again, as they did in earlier trials.