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Fourth woman to testify at Danny Masterson rape trial

The woman says the actor assaulted her. The defense has tried to bar her from the stand.

Fourth woman to testify at Danny Masterson rape trial
Fourth woman to testify at Danny Masterson rape trial

LOS ANGELES — The judge in the rape trial of “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson dealt the defense a potential setback Monday by allowing a fourth woman who says he assaulted her to testify.

Masterson, 46, is charged with raping three women from 2001 to 2003 at his Hollywood Hills home. His trial started Oct. 18.

“I feel sandbagged,” defense attorney Philip Cohen said after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo said she would allow prosecutors to put the witness, identified as Jane Doe #4, on the stand.

Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller argued that Cohen opened the door by suggesting that Masterson’s three accusers, all former members of the Church of Scientology, colluded against Masterson, who still belongs to the church.

Jane Doe #4 was not a Scientologist or in cahoots with Masterson’s accusers, Mueller said. He said the jury should be aware another woman is “out there with similar experience with Mr. Masterson who also was interviewed” by Los Angeles police detectives.

Masterson has not been charged in the fourth alleged assault.

Olmedo agreed and denied Cohen’s request for a mistrial. She had initially barred the testimony of Jane Doe #4, who told police Masterson sexually assaulted her in 1996.

“The defense is now saying the victims are almost exclusively focused on a monetary motive and is focused on collusion and changing statements,” the judge said. “But besides that change, what is almost important to the court, the defense was almost exclusively focused on consent.”

The closely watched trial entered day 16 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Masterson, 46, has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to three counts of forcible rape. He remains free on $3.3 million bail.

Throughout the trial, the jury has heard graphic testimony from the three accusers, one of whom is a former longtime girlfriend.

“This is not going to be a trial on Scientology,” Olmedo warned at a pretrial hearing, although she allowed the accusers to cite the church as a reason they waited to report the alleged rapes.

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