That 70s Show Star Danny Masterson Jailed For 30 Years To Life For Rapes

Actor Danny Masterson who starred in the sitcom, That 70s Show, has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for the rapes of two women from 20 years ago.

The rapes allegedly took place at the actor's Hollywood-area home, at the height of his fame on the sitcom in 2003, where the victims claimed that after Masterson had given them drinks, they felt woozy, before being violently raped.

Masterson was found guilty on two counts of rape on May 31 this year, while a verdict could not be reached on a third charge of rape on a former girlfriend, with the voting ruling 8-4 in favour of a conviction.

Last December, a mistrial was declared after verdicts could not be reached on the rapes that Masterson was accused of.

Masterson was handed down a sentence of 30 years to life in prison by Judge Charlaine F Olmedo, who heard statements from two women who Masterson was ultimately convicted of raping.

“When you raped me, you stole from me”, one of the women said. “That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit”. 

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

The other woman that Masterson was convicted of raping also said that he, “has not shown an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused”.

She also spoke about her regrets over not reporting this to law enforcement sooner.

“I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with. I am so sorry, and I’m so upset". Adding, “I wish I’d reported him sooner to the police”. 

“testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs"

At the trial, the two women also blasted the Church Of Scientology, for allowing Masterson to hide behind them.

Masterson was a high-standing member of the church, and the women who were also members, had reported their ordeals to the church. However, they claimed that they were told that they were not raped, and were warned against reporting a man of such high standing in our church to law enforcement, as well as putting them through ethics programmes.

Following the verdict, the church claimed that the  “testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs” during the trial were “uniformly false”.

“The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone — Scientologists or not — to law enforcement", a statement read. 

Having earlier rejected a defence motion for a new trial, the judge handed down the sentence to Masterson, who did not testify at the trial. 

Prosecutors had called for the disgraced actor to be handed down the full sentence of 30 years to life, with his defence calling for 15 years to life.

“It’s his life that will be impacted by what you decide today,” Masterson’s lawyer Shawn Holley said, ahead of sentencing.

“And the life of his nine-year-old daughter, who means the world to him, and to whom he means the world”. “He has lived an exemplary life, he has been an extraordinary father, husband, brother, son, co-worker and community servant,” Mr Holley said.

Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for these two rapes.