Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison
Category: News & Politics
Via: perrie-halpern • last year • 10 commentsBy: By Angela Yang, Diana Dasrath and Corky Siemaszko
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
LOS ANGELES — "That '70s Show" star Danny Masterson was sentenced Thursday to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women more than two decades ago at his Hollywood Hills home.
Masterson, 47, showed no visible emotion after Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo threw the book at him.
"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 said just before she dispatched Masterson to prison. "But Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here."
Masterson's wife, Bijou Phillips, a model and actor who was a constant presence at her husband's trials, quickly donned a pair of sunglasses after Olmedo announced the sentence. She left the courtroom without a word.
Danny Masterson speaks at a launch event for Netflix's "The Ranch: Part 3" in Nashville, Tenn., on June 7, 2017.Anna Webber / Getty Images for Netflix file
Masterson was hit with the staggering sentence four months after he was convicted on two of the three rape counts he faced at his retrial in Los Angeles. He had been charged with raping three women — identified at trial as Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2 and Jane Doe #3 — from 2001 to 2003.
Masterson, a once-popular sitcom star, did not take the stand at either of his trials. He has, through his lawyers, repeatedly denied sexually assaulting the women.
Neither did Masterson make any statement at his sentencing. Instead, he sat silently as the two women he was convicted of raping, as well as a former girlfriend whose rape accusation the jury deadlocked over in May, took turns urging the judge to hit him with a harsh punishment.
"When you raped me, you stole from me," Jane Doe #2 told the court. "That's what rape is, a theft of the spirit."
"You are pathetic, disturbed and completely violent," she said. "The world is better off with you in prison."
Jane Doe #1 said Masterson "has not shown an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused."
"I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with," she said. "I am so sorry, and I'm so upset. I wish I'd reported him sooner to the police."
Jane Doe #3 said Masterson's actions sentenced her to "viewing my body as a crime scene my entire life."
In a post-sentencing statement, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said he applauded the women for "coming forward and participating in this process."
"My hope is that this sentence will somehow bring them peace and that their bravery will be an example to others," Gascon said. "One of my top priorities is to ensure that Los Angeles will no longer be a hunting ground for Hollywood elite who feel entitled to prey on women."
Shawn Holley, one of Masterson's lawyers, said in a statement the legal battle is not over.
"And though we have great respect for the jury in this case and for our system of justice overall, sometimes they get it wrong," Holley said. "And that's what happened here."
"Mr. Masterson did not commit the crimes for which he has been convicted and we and the appellate lawyers — the best and the brightest in the country — are confident that these convictions will be overturned."
Masterson's first trial ended in November with a mistrial, with jurors leaning toward acquittal. His second trial ended with his being convicted of raping Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 but not Jane Doe #3 because the jurors could not reach a decision.
All three accusers are former members of the Church of Scientology, to which Masterson belongs.
Both trials focused unwanted attention on the controversial church, which the women have accused of trying to cover up the allegations.
At the retrial, Olmedo stressed that Scientology was not a defendant. But she allowed witnesses to testify that church officials pressured them not to talk to police about the rape allegations.
Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw repeatedly denied those allegations and insisted that church doctrine requires members to "abide by all the laws of the land."
After Masterson's sentencing, the church released a statement that did not mention Masterson by name; it said the prosecution's "introduction of religion into this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Amendment."
"The Church was not a party to this case and religion did not belong in this proceeding as Supreme Court precedent has maintained for centuries," it said.
CORRECTION (Sept. 7, 2023, 6:33 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the outcome of Masterson's retrial in May. He was not acquitted of the third count of rape; the jury was deadlocked on that count.
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another wacko religious cultist heads off to where they all belong ...
Watched that 70s show a few times and Masterson was my least favorite character. I think that I always saw him behind his character.
Years of being a bouncer, bodyguard, investigator and paramedic pay off.
After a few decades, it gets easier to see through the eyes of others.
Dated a few actresses and strippers. It's schoolmarms from here on out.
Can't really say I can actually trust anybody anymore. Sad but true.
This should be the outcome for most rapists.
Pedophiles are also rapists, but should either be sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole or to the death penalty.
Rape is about power and control over the victim. In some (if not most) cases, it could also be about the rapist taking pleasure in causing their victim pain during and after being raped. If the rapist can rape someone who they are social with, the rapist can be rewarded with the sadistic pleasure of watching their victim struggle to cover up the rape by acting "normal" or face being judged as a liar by the supporters of the rapist.
It is past time that the public quit judging the victims and remove the rapists from our society. We will all benefit.
No means NO! Fuck all abusers!
Once taught free rape prevention classes in my martial art school.
Damn thing is that some hard core women abused that training.
It's not just guys who can be evil. Some women can be even worse.
Some women trash nice guys just for the fun of it.
While I agree that evil traits (narcissism, sadism, psychopathy, etc.) are not exclusive to males, the majority of heinous acts are committed by males. Unfortunately, the dark triad traits are becoming far more common in the US society as people try to attain the lavish lifestyles of the megarich social and sports celebrities. It is becoming foolish to trust anyone. This is resulting in even more mental illness because to be mentally healthy most people require healthy and social interaction at home, work and school.
I am curious by what you mean by "some women can be even worse". I'm thinking Ted Bundy level of evil.
As far as the women trash nice guys, doesn't the same apply for the men who trash nice women? I repeat - there is no shortage of people with dark personality traits that are rarely evident to most people because the public persona is usually charming, even charismatic.
Of course, the people, who are megarich and/or have power, don't have to be all that charming in public, they can control by instilling fear in others. It may have been their ability to do everything possible to eliminate the competition that allowed them to achieve their power and wealth - politicians and dictators come to mind.
Another one off the streets.
He was funny in "The Ranch".
Too bad he turned out to be such a shit.
Good riddance!
Back in my bodyguard days knew some folk who thought their shit didn't stink.
Much like Trump they thought that they could get away with anything.
Quit the bodyguard business because some of my clients I wanted to kill.
Wasn't about to fight or take a bullet for somebody I had no respect for.
Quit the agency that kept sending me out to be a strike breaker.
Never found the starlet I wanted to protect like Kostner did in that movie.
I wouldn't take a bullet for the former 'president' - what a scumbag.
If he did it then fuck him. I haven't been following this at all but being found guilty of rape, I would look the other way in a prison stabbing.