American actor Danny Masterson has been handed a 30-year to life prison sentence for the rape of two women. During the early 2000s, Masterson was a prominent cast member on the TV series “That ’70s Show.”
Danny Masterson, known for his role in ‘That ’70s Show,’ received a prison sentence of 30 years to life for the rape of two women. These survivors revealed on Thursday that they believed the Church of Scientology aimed to shield the actor and silence them.
The 47-year-old actor, a well-known Scientologist, appeared in the popular TV comedy for eight seasons until 2006. Following a second trial in May, he was convicted, though a jury could not reach a verdict on a rape charge involving a third woman.
Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison
Judge Charlaine Olmedo from the Los Angeles Superior Court handed down the harshest sentence permissible by law. Danny Masterson, who has been incarcerated since his conviction, will become eligible for parole in 25 and a half years.
This case gained notoriety partly due to Masterson’s connection with the Church of Scientology, where the women he victimized first encountered him. The survivors alleged that the organization discouraged them from involving law enforcement.
The Church of Scientology vehemently denied these claims and argued that Masterson’s faith should not have played a role in the case, labeling it “an unprecedented infringement of the First Amendment.”
Prosecutors built their case around allegations related to Scientology and accused the organization of using misinformation about the Church to incite bias and intolerance.
Shocking Celebrity Split: Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner’s Surprise Marriage Breakup Confirmed!
The women stated that Danny Masterson had drugged and sexually assaulted them in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003 at his residence in the Hollywood Hills.
Surrounded by his wife, actress Bijou Phillips, and his brother, “Malcolm in the Middle” actor Christopher Masterson, Danny Masterson displayed minimal reaction as the survivors delivered their victim impact statements. He had the opportunity to speak but chose not to do so.
The woman, who had been a part of the Church of Scientology when she encountered Masterson, characterized the religious institution as a “shield and defender” for him. She recounted feeling “terrorized and harassed” by the church when attempting to disclose her sexual assault.
She expressed, “Rape is a theft of the spirit,” underscoring the lasting trauma she endured, which led to the development of PTSD and the demise of her once-promising acting career.