Danny Masterson, star of ‘That 70s Show,’ gets 30 years to life for rape.
Danny Masterson Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Prison for Rape
Danny Masterson, best known for his role as Steven Hyde in “That ’70s Show,” has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being found guilty of raping two women at his Hollywood Hills home in the early 2000s.
The Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to the 47-year-old actor after hearing statements from the victims he sexually assaulted in 2003.
“Mr. Masterson, I know that you’re sitting here steadfast in your claims of innocence, and thus no doubt feeling victimized by a justice system that has failed you,” Olmedo told Masterson before handing down the sentence. “But Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another person’s voice and choice. One way or another, you will have to come to terms with your prior actions and their consequences.”
A Los Angeles jury found Masterson guilty of two counts of rape in a retrial in May. Several women who had connections to the Church of Scientology accused him of sexual assault in the early 2000s.
The jury reached the verdict after seven days of deliberation. However, they were unable to decide on another sexual assault charge involving an ex-girlfriend, Chrissie Carnell-Bixler.
The retrial came after three women, including Carnell-Bixler, accused Masterson of sexually assaulting them between 2001 and 2003. Masterson allegedly drugged and raped the women in his Hollywood Hills home. The first round of deliberations ended in a mistrial in November.
Before the sentencing, Masterson’s lawyer, Shawn Holley, pleaded for leniency, emphasizing the impact the sentence would have on Masterson’s life and his 9-year-old daughter.
Masterson rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s while starring in “That ’70s Show” alongside Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Topher Grace. He later appeared in the Netflix comedy “The Ranch” until his character was written off following a police investigation.
The women who accused Masterson testified that church officials conspired with him to cover up the incidents and discouraged them from reporting to law enforcement. The Church of Scientology has denied these allegations.
Masterson has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming that the sexual relations were consensual. He expressed frustration with the presumption of guilt that accompanied the #MeToo movement.
Masterson, who did not testify or call witnesses, may be eligible for parole after serving 25 1/2 years but could potentially face life imprisonment.
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