• News/ 

    Austin Powers Actor Convicted of Torture in Horrific Christmas Eve Rape—21 Years After Heinous Crime

    Joseph Hyungmin Son, Austin Powers New Line Cinema

    It took two decades, but the law finally came down on Joseph Hyungmin Son.

    The actor best known for playing Dr. Evil's shoe-throwing henchman Random Task in 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, was convicted of torture Thursday in Santa Ana, Calif. in connection with a 1990 Christmas Eve gang rape of a woman who was out walking her dog.

    Here's what happened.

    RELATED: DWTS Alum Lawrence Taylor Arrested For Alleged Rape

    A Santa Ana jury found the 40-year-old Son guilty of one felony count of torture stemming from his arrest on Oct. 7, 2008 on an outstanding warrant. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years-to-life in state prison come sentencing Sept. 9.




    The men then finally allowed the woman to leave, naked and with her pants tied around her eyes. She managed go to a nearby home where the homeowners called police.

    RELATED: Kara DioGuardi Reveals Childhood Molestation, Date Rape

    Unfortunately, despite collecting evidence at the crime scene, investigators had few leads and the case went cold.

    But they caught a lucky break when Son—who went on to minor fame parodying James Bond nemesis Odd Job in Mike Myers' 1997 spy spoof—got collared and pleaded guilty to felony vandalism on May 16, 2008.

    He was subsequently sentenced to 60 days in jail with an additional 90 days after violating his probation. As part of his original plea, he was required to provide a DNA sample—which turned out to match the DNA evidence gathered at the crime scene.

    D.A. spokeswoman Farrah Emami tells E! News why the prosecutors went after the torture charge.

    "We didn't proceed on the sexual assault charges based on the statute of limitations," she said. "So the sexual assault charges were not taken before a jury so the only count he was found guilty of was torture. But based on that count, he still faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life so it's still a very significant count to be found guilty of."

    Emami added that the judge will determine how much time he does, not a jury; the sentence will be based on the totality of the circumstances, and the victim will have the opportunity to give a statement. 


    Since Son fought the charges, it's likely he'll get a longer sentence.

    MORE: SYTYCD Choreographer Arrested for Rape