Danny Mastersontrial latest: That 70s Show’ actor sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for rape

A resurfaced chat show clip of Danny Masterson takes on a chilling new light after he was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for multiple rapes.

The video was taken from 2004 when the 47-year-old actor, who starred in That ’70s Showappeared in the NBC series Late Night with Conan O’Brien . The rapes he was convicted of took place a year ago.

Jacob Stolworthy reports how chat show banter has taken on a new resonance.

That ’70s Show Star Danny Masterson was sentenced to life in prison for raping two women two decades ago.

He is eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

The sentence was imposed on Thursday (7 September) by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F Olmedo, after she rejected the defense’s motion for a new trial.

Inga Parkel reports for The Independent.

Prosecutors allege that Masterson used his prominence in the Church of Scientology — of which all three women were also members at the time — to avoid consequences decades after the attacks.

The women blamed the church for their reluctance to go to the police about Masterson. They testified that when they reported him to Scientology officials, they were told they were not raped, put through behavioral programs themselves, and warned against going to law enforcement to report a member. with high status.

“They were raped, they were punished for it, and they were retaliated against,” Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller told jurors at the trial. “Scientology told them there was no justice for them.”

The church said in a statement after the verdict that the “affirmation and definition of Scientology beliefs” during the trial were “equally wrong.”

“The Church has no policy that prohibits or discourages members from reporting criminal conduct by anyone – Scientologist or not – to law enforcement,” the statement said.

Actor Danny Masterson remained unmoved as his two rape victims gave powerful statements to a judge before the That ’70s Show star was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the attacks.

“You are pathetic, disturbed and completely violent,” he added. “The world is better off with you in jail.”

Another victim told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo that the actor “didn’t show an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused.”

Graeme Massie reports from Los Angeles.

Reports indicate that Masterson’s wife, Bijou Phillips, was visibly upset in court when her husband of 12 years was convicted on 31 May after seven days of jury deliberations and a mistrial in 2022. The 43-year-old model has stuck by Masterson’s side for the duration of his ordeal, showing no signs that she plans to leave or divorce him now.

Her husband’s trial joins a long list of scandals Bijou has encountered throughout her life. For those unfamiliar, here’s a little background on the sitcom star’s wife.

Actor Ashton Kutcher, who starred alongside Masterston in the That 70s Show and The Ranchcommented on the case in January.

Masterson’s lawyer challenged his former long-term girlfriend during her trial testimony as to why new details emerged in her story when she admitted that the actor raped her in 2001.

The Associated Press does not usually name people who say they are victims of sexual abuse.

One of the women Masterson was convicted of raping was born into a Scientology family and was part of Masterson’s circle of friends. Almost all those closest to him were members, including the late Lisa Marie Presley, who also left the church before her death in January.

The woman said that when she stopped by Masterson’s house to pick up a set of keys in 2003, he gave her a drink that left her sick and terrified, and raped her in her upstairs bedroom. He first filed a police report, which did not lead to an arrest, in 2004. He returned to authorities in 2016.

The jury found his account credible and convicted Masterson based on his allegations.

A model and actor who was Masterson’s girlfriend from 1996 to 2002 took the stand to open the trial. She previously testified that Masterson grew physically and sexually abusive during their years together. She said it eventually led to her being raped twice in late 2001, although she was only charged once, one morning when she woke up to find Masterson raping her. He goes to the police 15 years later.

Jurors could not agree on a verdict on his allegations, deadlocking 8-4 in favor of conviction.

The third woman at the trial center recently met Masterson through mutual friends at the church, which she attended as a teenager. She testified that in 2003 Masterson invited her to his home, where they were alone. He said that she clearly did not want to have sex, but he convinced her to get into his jacuzzi and then took her to his bed, where he raped her. He went to the police in 2017.

The jury convicted Masterson based on his testimony.

“Mr Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away someone else’s choice and voice. Your actions 20 years ago today are criminal, and that’s why you’re here,” Judge Olmedo told the actor.

Olmedo told Masterson that he knew he was thinking “how can you get convicted in every case of a sexual incident that happened 20 years ago” involving “a woman who you believe is dissatisfied and has a vendetta against you. .”

But, Olmedo said, “you are not convicted on the testimony of one person.”

“You are not convicted based on hearsay, innuendo, gossip and speculation,” Olmedo said. “You were convicted based on evidence that 12 people in the community found credible. … You were convicted because each of the victims reported the rapes to someone shortly after the rapes occurred.”

Judge Olmedo also noted that Masterson paid one of his victims nearly $1m to sign a non-disclosure agreement, describing it as “an outrageous price” for an incident he admittedly never happened.

Prosecutors alleged that Masterson used his prominence in the Church of Scientology — of which all three women were also members at the time — to avoid consequences decades after the attacks.

The women blamed the church for their reluctance to go to the police about Masterson. They testified that when they reported him to Scientology officials, they were told they were not raped, put through behavioral programs themselves, and warned against going to law enforcement to report a member. with high status.

“They were raped, they were punished for it, and they were retaliated against,” Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller told jurors at the trial. “Scientology told them there was no justice for them.”

The church said in a statement after the verdict that the “affirmation and definition of Scientology beliefs” during the trial were “equally wrong.”

“The Church has no policy that prohibits or discourages members from reporting criminal conduct by anyone – Scientologist or not – to law enforcement,” the statement said.