The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has declined to file sexual assault charges against musician Marilyn Manson, legally known as Brian Warner, following a protracted investigation into allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence. District Attorney Nathan Hochman cited the statute of limitations as the primary obstacle, stating that the alleged incidents fell outside the legally permissible timeframe for prosecution. Furthermore, Hochman explained that the available evidence was insufficient to prove the sexual assault charges beyond a reasonable doubt, the standard required for a criminal conviction. While acknowledging the courage of the women who came forward, the District Attorney’s office concluded that pursuing charges was not legally viable.
This decision marks the culmination of a nearly four-year investigation that began in 2021, initially focusing on incidents alleged to have occurred between 2009 and 2011 in West Hollywood, where Manson resided at the time. The investigation involved search warrants executed at Manson’s home and extensive interviews with multiple women. Despite the initial optimism expressed by former District Attorney George Gascón in 2022 regarding new leads, the case ultimately stalled due to the limitations imposed by the statute of limitations and the perceived lack of sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. Manson’s attorney, Howard King, welcomed the decision, maintaining his client’s innocence throughout the investigation.
While the identities of the women involved in the investigation were largely kept confidential, actress Esmé Bianco, known for her role in “Game of Thrones,” publicly confirmed her participation. Bianco, who previously settled a civil lawsuit against Manson alleging sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, expressed disappointment but not surprise at the District Attorney’s decision. She criticized the justice system for failing survivors, highlighting the challenges posed by statutes of limitations in prosecuting historical abuse cases. Bianco’s lawsuit detailed harrowing allegations against Manson, including claims of human trafficking related to her move from England to California.
Evan Rachel Wood, another actress and Manson’s former fiancée, also played a significant role in bringing the allegations against Manson to public attention. In 2021, Wood publicly named Manson as her abuser on social media, alleging that he began grooming her as a teenager and subjected her to years of horrific abuse. Manson vehemently denied Wood’s accusations, characterizing them as distortions of reality. He subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Wood, alleging a conspiracy to fabricate accusations against him, but later dropped the suit and agreed to pay Wood’s legal fees.
Despite the District Attorney’s decision not to prosecute, Wood expressed gratitude for the thorough investigation and pride in the survivors who came forward. She acknowledged the limitations posed by the statute of limitations in her own case, emphasizing that she had been advised by law enforcement that while compelling evidence existed, the time elapsed prevented prosecution. Wood further highlighted the importance of her work on the Phoenix Act, legislation passed in California in 2020 to extend the statute of limitations in domestic violence cases.
The Phoenix Act, a collaborative effort between Wood, former California Assembly member Eduardo Garcia, and Senator Susan Rubio, represents a significant step towards addressing the challenges survivors face in pursuing justice for past abuse. While the Act could not retroactively apply to Wood’s case or others that predated its enactment, it signifies a legislative recognition of the need for greater flexibility in prosecuting domestic violence cases. Wood testified before the California State Senate in support of the bill, emphasizing the importance of preventing violent crimes from having an expiration date. This case underscores the complex interplay between legal constraints, the burden of proof, and the enduring impact of trauma on survivors of abuse.
