Opening Statements Begin in Danny Masterson Sexual Assault Trial as D.A. Recounts Disturbing Rape Claims

Masterson's lawyer disputed the rape claims in court on Tuesday and reminded the jury that they must "prove beyond a reasonable doubt" the alleged incidents happened

By

Stephanie Wenger

and Dana Feldman

Published on October 19, 2022 12:07 AM

Warning: This story contains graphic details of alleged rape.

Opening statements in Danny Masterson's sexual assault trial began on Tuesday following the completion of jury selection.

Masterson was charged in 2020 with forcibly raping three women in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges in January 2021, and a Los Angeles judge ordered him last year to stand trial. All of the alleged crimes occurred at Masterson's home, prosecutors say, and all three accusers took the stand to detail their allegations last May in a preliminary hearing.

If Masterson is found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of 45 years to life in state prison.

On Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller took the podium to begin a two-hour and 15-minute opening statement, in which he detailed the accusations from three women who alleged Masterson had sex with them without their consent.

Following Mueller's opening statement, Masterson's lawyer, Philip Cohen, spoke to the courtroom and emphasized the "cross-contamination" that allegedly occurred, claiming that the women all spoke to each other "before talking to the LAPD," per Deadline. Cohen also claimed there were inconsistencies in the women's stories, supported by what they allegedly told officials and lack of photographic evidence.

During Mueller's opening statement, he detailed the expected upcoming testimony about how Masterson allegedly drugged and raped the women, who were identified by their initials as J.B., N.T. and C.B.

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Masterson had a lot of support in court as he listened calmly with his hands folded in his lap. Seated behind him were two rows of family, including his two brothers, Christopher and Jordan, mom Carol, sister Alanna and wife Bijou Phillips. Actor and close friend Chris Wadhams was also there for support.

Mueller began detailing the accusations, starting with J.B., who allegedly had two separate incidents with Masterson in September 2002 and April 2003.

Mueller said J.B. was 28 when the first incident occurred. She was planning to spend the night at a friend's house, but the friend got into an argument so J.B. ended up hanging out with Masterson, who was a mutual friend of theirs, per Mueller.

While out, Mueller said J.B. had one or two grapefruit juice and vodka drinks and became intoxicated. She then went to Masterson's house, where she planned to sleep in the guest room, but Masterson allegedly "pulled her up the stairs to the master bedroom." Though she laughed it off at first, Mueller said she was feeling fuzzy and they had sex.

Mueller alleged that it "quickly turned into a situation where the defendant had flipped her over and penetrated her anally." J.B. attempted to fight back, but injured her back in the process, per Mueller. She told a few friends at the time, including Lisa Marie Presley (who is expected to testify), and Mueller claimed that the jury "will also hear testimony about a possible pregnancy and miscarriage related to that incident."

Danny Masterson arrives to LA Criminal Court in downtown this morning. It is day one of his sexual assault trial. — Splash

Though no charges were filed for that particular incident, Mueller claimed Masterson raped her again nine months later, which is the incident he's now being charged in connection with.

During the second alleged incident on April 24, 2003, Mueller said J.B. and Masterson were out celebrating a friend's birthday, and J.B. ended up staying at Masterson's home after losing the keys to her friend's place where she was planning to stay, according to Mueller.

This time, Mueller claimed Masterson served J.B. a red fruity drink with vodka. "This was the first drink she'd had all evening," Mueller said. "She drank less than half and became very disoriented."

It was then that she claimed Masterson grabbed her by the wrists and physically demanded she enter the jacuzzi, Mueller said. He also alleged that J.B. didn't want to go in and told Masterson no, but Masterson ignored her and said, 'You have 15 seconds.'" According to Mueller, J.B. struggled to get her boots off and was in a top, bra and underwear and was soaking wet.

Danny Masterson. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for DirecTV

"Things got worse," Mueller added, claiming that J.B. couldn't stand, was struggling to breathe, couldn't keep her eyes open and was nauseous. Masterson allegedly told J.B. he was going to take her upstairs and put his finger down her throat to make her vomit, Mueller said.

After they went into the bathroom, Mueller said J.B. got sick in the toilet and Masterson allegedly told her, "You're disgusting. You vomited everywhere." Masterson then put her into the shower, where J.B. allegedly passed out and woke up to him stroking her breasts, Mueller said.

Later, Masterson took her to his bedroom, where J.B. allegedly woke up to his "full weight on her" and was penetrating her vaginally, Mueller said. J.B. claimed she used a pillow to try and push him off but Masterson allegedly used that pillow to smother her, Mueller said. He added that, "She passed out from that pillow while he was still penetrating her."

J.B. also claimed he took out a gun and threatened her not to move or tell anyone about the incident, Mueller said. Though J.B. didn't initially tell anyone, she went to tell a Master-at-Arms (an ethics officer in Scientology) two days later after friends and family noticed bruises on her body.

"His response was, 'If you're going to tell me this is rape, it wasn't rape. You're not supposed to use that word. You're not allowed to go to the police,'" Mueller quoted J.B. as claiming. "'Doing so would be considered a high crime. And if you commit a high crime, you could be declared a Suppressive Person. What that means is that all of the other people in the church have to detach from you and you are essentially an enemy of the church."

In April 2004, J.B. eventually went to the Hollywood police station to report the alleged rape.

Mueller also spoke about C.B., a model who was Masterson's girlfriend for five or six years, and N.T., an actress on the TV show Oh, Grow Up.

Mueller said about a year into C.B.'s relationship with Masterson, things began to change and the That '70s Show actor allegedly became "more controlling" with C.B. and wanted her to stop traveling for modeling.

C.B. also claimed Masterson was aggressive sexually and she woke up to him having sex with her several times, Mueller said. On one such occasion, Mueller said C.B. tried to fight him off but he allegedly pinned her arms back and pulled her hair as she screamed for him to stop.

"He had these rules… the 'no touch hair rule' and the 'no touch face rule.' He hit her across the face while he continues to penetrate her. He spit in her face and called her 'white trash', which he often did," Mueller alleged in court.

The next day, Mueller told the jury C.B. reported the alleged incident to an Ethics Officer at the Church of Scientology but claimed she was told, "You can't rape your 2D [Second Dynamic, which is a spouse or partner]. Don't ever use that word again." She was also allegedly told she was "Out-Exchange" with Masterson, meaning he takes care of her so she should give him sex whenever he wants, per Mueller's statement in court.

With N.T., Mueller shared a similar story about her going to Masterson's home, feeling ill after having drinks and allegedly being ordered into the jacuzzi, shower and bed.

"She was out of it and very scared," Mueller said, noting that N.T. told Masterson "I don't want to do this," but he still allegedly raped her in the shower and in bed. She later vomited and he allegedly ejaculated on her stomach, Mueller claimed.

Masterson's lawyer later hit back at the claims from the women, telling the jury, "There's no rape kit evidence …no voicemail evidence" and dismissed mentions of Scientology, per Deadline. He added that the case is simply about "three nights with three women 20 years [ago] and whether or not the government can prove beyond a reasonable doubt" that Masterson allegedly raped these women.

Many of the allegations first surfaced in March 2017 when the LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division confirmed an investigation was taking place into sexual assault allegations against the actor. In November 2017, HuffPost reported that a fourth woman had accused Masterson of raping her in the early 2000s. Official charges were filed against Masterson in 2020.

"This is beyond ridiculous," Masterson said in a statement to PEOPLE through his attorney at the time. "I'm not going to fight my ex-girlfriend in the media like she's been baiting me to do for more than two years. I will beat her in court — and look forward to it because the public will finally be able learn the truth and see how I've been railroaded by this woman. And once her lawsuit is thrown out, I intend to sue her and the others who jumped on the bandwagon for the damage they caused me and my family."

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During last year's preliminary hearing, the women detailed their accusations against the actor. Last week, Variety reported that the trial would be limited in its discussion of the actor's faith and the Church of Scientology's alleged involvement after the assaults.

"This is not going to become a trial on Scientology," Judge Charlaine Olmedo said in a pre-trial hearing.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.