The judge overseeing the rape conviction of actor Danny Masterson is seeking answers regarding the whereabouts of nine firearms that Masterson was ordered to surrender. Masterson was convicted in May of raping two women and was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. Before his trials began, Judge Charlaine Olmedo had instructed Masterson to give up his collection of 10 guns, but only one has been confirmed destroyed, and the rest are unaccounted for.
Masterson’s lawyer informed the judge that one gun had been destroyed many years ago, but the location of the others remains uncertain. The lawyer stated that Masterson no longer has possession or control of the firearms and that they were surrendered to law enforcement in 2020, as mandated by a protective order. The guns have been in law enforcement custody since then.
Judge Olmedo has given Masterson’s legal team until December 7 to determine what happened to the missing firearms. If necessary, she will authorize a search warrant for any locations where she believes the guns may be.
During the court proceedings, it was noted that Judge Olmedo was unusually friendly towards reporters and even handed out candy. This behavior was seen as a departure from her usual demeanor and was compared to her confident handling of the case. Judge Olmedo commented that in her 21 years of experience, the issue of missing firearms has rarely come up.
The judge’s demand for answers regarding Masterson’s unaccounted-for guns highlights the importance of ensuring that convicted individuals comply with court orders and surrender any potentially dangerous possessions.
