Danny Masterson faces 30 years to life in prison on charges of forcible rape, stemming from the assaults of two women at his home in 2003.
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A California judge on Friday determined that three of the women who accused “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson of rape will be allowed to speak at his sentencing next month.
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In a court hearing Friday morning, Los Angeles County prosecutors argued that three more alleged Masterson victims should be allowed to give victim impact statements at the Sept. 7 sentencing because of the “great societal interest” their words could have.
Two of the three women were previously allowed to testify in court under California law, which allows testimony about a defendant’s “past sexual misconduct, alleged and otherwise, when they are currently on trial for a sex crime.” Masterson has never been charged with assaulting those women.
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Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo said the court does have some discretion in who it allows to speak out as victims — but that does not necessarily include all sex assault survivors.
“I don’t believe sentencing is the appropriate forum for victims of certain crime to speak out on societal ills,” Olmedo said.
The judge tentatively ruled that she would allow Masterson’s former girlfriend, previously identified in court as Chrissie B., to speak during sentencing, but granted the defense the opportunity to argue their opposition at a pre-sentencing hearing on Aug. 21.
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