Metal Anarchy

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has issued a new statement regarding the sexual assault and abuse allegations against Marilyn Manson. According to him, the “allegations of domestic violence fall outside of the statute of limitations, and [investigators] cannot prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Hochman said the following:

“LOS ANGELES – Nathan J. Hochman announced today that experienced prosecutors from the Sex Crimes Division of the District Attorney’s Office, along with detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, completed a comprehensive four-year investigation into allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault made against Brian Warner, aka Marilyn Manson. We have determined that allegations of domestic violence fall outside of the statute of limitations, and we cannot prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt.

We recognize and applaud the courage and resilience of the women who came forward to make reports and share their experiences, and we thank them for their cooperation and patience with the investigation. While we are unable to bring charges in this matter, we recognize that the strong advocacy of the women involved has helped bring greater awareness to the challenges faced by survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault. We also acknowledge and commend them for making an important contribution to extending the statute of limitations for the prosecution of domestic abuse locally and throughout the nation. Due to their efforts, victims of domestic violence have a greater voice in our criminal justice system and prosecutorial offices around the country have improved tools to hold domestic violence abusers accountable for their actions.

Despite the decision necessitated by the facts and evidence in this matter, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office remains fully committed to seeking justice for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault whenever legally possible. We encourage anyone experiencing abuse to seek support and make a report to law enforcement as quickly as possible.”

As previously reported, Manson has been facing allegations from multiple women who came forward after being inspired by Evan Rachel Wood, who claimed that he “horrifically abused [her] for years.” Among those who shared their stories were Ashley Morgan Smithline, who accused him of sexual assault before recanting her statements, Esmé Bianco, who settled a lawsuit in which she accused him of abuse and human trafficking, Bianca Allaine Kyne, who filed a lawsuit after claiming he sexually assaulted her when she was a minor, his ex-assistant Ashley Walters, who filed a lawsuit after accusing him of sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual harassment, etc., and one unidentified woman, who recently settled a rape and death threat lawsuit.

For his part, Manson continued to deny the allegations, while also lamenting the impact they have had on his career. He also filed a lawsuit against Wood for defamation, before dropping the complaint.

Manson’s lawyer Howard King told Rolling Stone the following about the DA’s decision:

“We are very pleased that, after a thorough and incredibly lengthy review of all of the actual evidence, the District Attorney has concluded what we knew and expressed from the start — Brian Warner is innocent.”

Bianco has since commented as well, saying she is “deeply disappointed” by this latest development:

“Within our toxic culture of victim blaming; a lack of understanding of coercive control, the complex nature of sexual assault within intimate partnerships, and statutes of limitations that do not support the realities of healing; prosecutions face an oftentimes insurmountable hurdle. Once again, our justice system has failed survivors.

Not the individual prosecutors and detectives who worked for years on this case, but the system that made them do so with one hand tied behind their collective backs. Seven years ago when I was faced for the first time with that failure, it set me out on a journey of advocacy and activism, but with that came a very clear directive. My healing and peace could not be reliant upon the outcome of a desperately broken system.”

She also addressed Manson directly:

“By you dragging me through hell, I discovered the unstoppable force of my own power. I learnt how strong, and brave and bold I really am. I emerged as a Phoenix from the ashes that you left of my life. You also know the truth, and may you endeavor to find peace with that.”