LOS ANGELES — Actor Danny Masterson’s convictions and lengthy prison term for raping two women at his home in 2003 were affirmed by a California appeals court on Tuesday.
The three-judge panel unanimously concluded in an 89-page decision that the actor from “That ’70s Show” had not proven that the lower court erred in a way that would have warranted a new trial. Additionally, Masterson’s appeal alleging poor legal aid was denied by the panel.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Danny Masterson |
| Profession | Actor |
| Known For | That '70s Show |
| Legal Update | Appeal Rejected |
| Conviction Year | 2023 |
| Sentence | 30 years to life in prison |
| First Trial | Ended with a deadlocked jury in 2022 |
| Next Legal Step | Lawyers plan to seek review by the California Supreme Court |
| Location | California, United States |
In 2022, Masterson’s initial trial resulted in a hung jury; nevertheless, he was found guilty of raping two women at his retrial the following year. He received a sentence ranging from 30 years to life in jail.
The court rejected a number of arguments, including that Masterson’s convictions violated the 10-year statute of limitations for forcible rape because the statute does not apply when there are multiple victims, that the trial court disregarded evidence that supported Masterson, and that the trial court was biased against his religion.
Masterson’s Conviction and Prison Sentence
Masterson is a well-known member of the Church of Scientology, and his accusers are former members who said that after being attacked, they lost faith in the organization. They said that church authorities informed them that what had occurred to them was not rape and that they were unable to report it to the police due to church laws. The church fiercely denied having such a policy.
