Danny Masterson Rape Case To Go Forward After Judge Dismisses Statute Of Limitations Argument

Danny Masterson will face the rape case charged against him after the judge dismissed his lawyers' argument that the alleged incidents happened outside the statute of limitations.

Masterson, 44, was charged in June with three counts of sexual assault after an investigation that lasted for more than three years. He was accused of raping a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001. He also allegedly raped a 28-year-old woman in April 2003. Another 23-year-old woman also accused him of raping her between October and December of 2003 after he invited her to his Hollywood Hills home, The Hollywood Reporter revealed.

Masterson's legal defense, Thomas Mesereau and Sharon Appelbaum, argued that the case should be thrown out because the alleged rape incidents happened outside the statute of limitations. However, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office charged Masteron under the state's "one strike" sex offense law, which according to Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller, was intended for sex offenses involving multiple victims to not have a statute of limitations, Variety reported.

Appelbaum argued that such interpretation would allow prosecutors to "sit back and wait to file these cases 20 years down the road." However, Judge Eleanor Hunter agreed with the prosecution that there is no statute of limitations for one-strike offenses.

One of the "That '70s Show" star's accusers is Chrissie Carnell Bixler. She alleged that Masterson sexually assaulted her multiple times when they were dating in late 2001 and early 2002. She also alleged that he drugged her and anally raped her. The other two women in the case have not been identified.

According to the women, they were intimidated and stalked after Masterson and the Church of Scientology learned that they were accusing the actor of sexual assault. They were very thankful that the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office pressed charges against Masterson. According to them, they only want "justice, accountability and truth."

“We are thankful that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is finally seeking criminal justice against Masterson after a three-year investigation,” the women said, per People.

Masterson face 45 years to life in prison if convicted on all charges. At present, he remains free on $3.3 million bail.