Actor Danny Masterson Sentenced To 30 Years To Life In Jail For Rape
Actor Danny Masterson, known for his role in the sitcom “That ’70s Show,” has been sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in prison for the rape of two women that occurred at his home two decades ago. Masterson was convicted in May of drugging and sexually assaulting fellow members of the Church of Scientology between 2001 and 2003 at his residence in the upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The sentencing, delivered by Judge Charlaine Olmedo, imposed a term of 15 years to life for each rape conviction, to be served consecutively. Despite Masterson’s continued protestations of innocence, the judge issued the lengthy sentence in accordance with the convictions.
During the sentencing, Judge Charlaine Olmedo made it clear that Danny Masterson was not the victim in this case. She emphasized that his actions had taken away another person’s voice and choice, underscoring the gravity of the crimes committed.
In addition to the prison sentence, Masterson was ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life upon his release. This requirement is intended to monitor and track the activities of individuals with a history of sexual offenses.
One of Masterson’s victims, known as Jane Doe 2, addressed the actor directly in court, expressing the harm he had caused. She accused him of taking pleasure in hurting women and emphasized that he had lived a double life, presenting a false image to the world. She asserted that the world is now safer with Masterson behind bars.
Notably, this was the second trial for Danny Masterson, as the previous proceedings ended in a mistrial in November when a different jury could not reach a unanimous decision. The subsequent trial led to his conviction and sentencing for the rape charges.
In the retrial, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on one of the rape charges against Danny Masterson involving a third woman. Consequently, that particular charge was dismissed.
Masterson has been in custody since his conviction and has awaited sentencing during this time.
The actor initially gained fame through his role in the 1998 sitcom “That ’70s Show,” where he portrayed the character Steven Hyde alongside co-stars Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. He later co-starred with Kutcher again on Netflix’s “The Ranch” but was terminated from the show in 2017 after the Los Angeles police confirmed they were investigating multiple rape allegations against him.
The three women at the center of the charges against Masterson were members of the Church of Scientology at the time of the incidents. Two of them reported that church officials had discouraged them from contacting law enforcement regarding the alleged rapes.
During the closing arguments of Danny Masterson’s trial, his defense lawyers raised questions about the extensive focus on Scientology throughout the proceedings. They suggested that bias against the church might have played a role in the case. The defense implied that the church’s association with the accused may have influenced perceptions and proceedings.
In response to these suggestions, the Church of Scientology has vehemently denied any involvement in silencing complaints or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct to law enforcement. They issued a statement emphasizing that the church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging its members, or anyone else, from reporting criminal conduct to the authorities. The statement further emphasized that church policy explicitly requires Scientologists to abide by all the laws of the land, emphasizing compliance with legal obligations.
This statement from the Church of Scientology underscores their position on adhering to legal standards and challenges any insinuation that they may have obstructed justice or discouraged individuals from reporting crimes, regardless of the individuals involved.
