Masterson Rape Sentence Stays

A three-judge panel from the California Second District Court of Appeal issued a ruling on Tuesday that sustains Danny Masterson's 2023 rape convictions. The decision leaves his sentence of 30 years to life in prison unchanged. The judges unanimously rejected every argument presented by the 50-year-old actor, who is best known for his role on That '70s Show.

In an 89-page document, the court concluded that Masterson failed to prove the trial court made errors severe enough to warrant a new trial. The legal team argued that the trial judge showed hostility toward Scientology, a religion Masterson belongs to. The panel disagreed, stating that the judge's comments showed no animus or departure from neutrality.

The court also dismissed claims that admitting evidence about Scientology violated the actor's First Amendment right to free exercise of religion. The judges noted that jurors were not asked to determine the truth of Scientology doctrines.

Masterson was convicted in 2023 on two counts of rape involving two women. The alleged assaults occurred in 2003. Both accusers were members of the Church of Scientology at the time. They testified that church officials told them they had not been raped and warned them against reporting a high-ranking member to police.

This verdict came during a retrial. His first trial in 2022 ended without a decision when the jury deadlocked. During the second trial, jurors also failed to reach a verdict on a third count. That count involves a woman who alleges she was raped in 2001. The appellate judges also denied arguments regarding the statute of limitations and evidentiary rulings.

The court separately denied a habeas corpus petition that claimed Masterson did not receive an adequate defense. Representatives for the actor had not responded to contact requests from CBC News by the time of publication.

Masterson's appellate attorneys, Cliff Gardner and Eric Multhaup, said in a statement to Variety that they intend to appeal the decision to the California Supreme Court. They also plan to pursue a separate petition.