In 2023, disgraced That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson was convicted of two counts of forcible rape. Now, his lawyers are allegedly making “unwanted contact” with the jurors of that trial by reportedly showing up to their homes and workplaces.
According to Rolling Stone, a new court filing made by Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller claimed that several jurors had been contacted by Masterson’s legal team. He called the actions “neither wanted nor [were they] made at a reasonable time and place as required.” In the same filing, he requested the court conduct a full hearing on the matter “to consider the imposition of sanctions, if appropriate, for any unwanted, harassing, or otherwise improper conduct by members of the defense team.”
As relayed by Mueller, the jurors felt concerned following the confrontations, as their identifying information was sealed by the court during the trial’s proceedings. The jurors also state that the defense team failed to make it clear that they had a right to not discuss the case.
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The filing came after Judge Charlaine Olmedo, who presided over the 2023 trial, sent a letter to both legal teams addressing the jurors’ concerns. After detailing the jury members’ claims, she said that the court was “troubled that they were approached at their homes” and issued an order requiring that any future contact with jurors first go through the court clerk.
In response Judge Olmedo’s order and Mueller’s court filing, Shawn Holley, one of Masterson’s former defense lawyers, submitted a declaration to the court stating she had indeed met with several jury members, but that the meetings were “friendly, cordial, and forthright.” She claimed that she found one jury foreperson’s email online and subsequently reached out to meet at a restaurant, which the jury member agreed to. Holley said that she obtained the information of additional former jurors at this meet up, leading to two more also agreeing to meet at a restaurant.
Holley also claimed that each juror she met with “indicated that I was welcome to contact them again if I had follow-up questions and/or wanted to meet again” and that she was “confident” that her actions were not “unwanted, harassing, or otherwise improper.” She also said she has had no further contact with any members of the jury.
Masterson is currently serving a prison sentence of 30 years-to-life. Following his conviction, he and his legal team filed for an appeal case.
