Danny Masterson Faces 30 Years in Prison overTwo Counts of Forcible Rape

Danny Masterson is going in for a long time.

The former actor of "That '70s Show," Danny Masterson, was found guilty on Wednesday of two charges of forcible rape.

With an 8-4 decision in favour of conviction, the jury was unable to decide on a third charge of rape.

On the two allegations, Masterson may receive a sentence ranging from 30 years to life in prison. The Masterson family, who were sat in the audience, could be heard gasping shortly after the clerk read the guilty verdicts.

Between 2001 and 2003, Masterson is said to have raped three women in his Hollywood Hills residence. He was found guilty of raping two women in 2003, but the jury was unable to reach a decision regarding a claim made in November 2001 involving a former lover.

His first trial resulted in a hung jury in November, with the majority of jurors choosing to exonerate him of all three charges.

The case has shed light on the Church of Scientology's beliefs, of which Masterson has been a lifelong adherent.

At the time of the alleged assaults, all three of the alleged victims were members; they have since left the church. Additionally, they said that the church discouraged them from calling the police about Masterson, who is a well-known church member because to his acting success.

Prosecutor Ariel Anson claimed in closing arguments that Masterson had used his status as a "upstart" in the church to rape the victims without fear of repercussions.

“Like all predators, the defendant carefully sought out his prey,” Anson argued. “The church taught his victims that rape isn’t rape, that you cause this and above all you aren’t allowed to go to law enforcement. What better hunting ground? In Scientology, the defendant is a celebrity and he’s untouchable.”