The 70s Show actor and member of the Church of Scientology, Danny Masterson was sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for the rape of two women. Last November the rape trial had ended in a mistrial after jurors decided they were unable to reach a decision on the actor’s guilt or innocence.
The earlier trial had deadlocked after hearing testimony for weeks. The testimony included from the 3 women who have accused Danny Masterson of raping them. In their failure to reach a decision, the jury left unresolved the claims by the 3 women that the actor had violently assaulted them at his Hollywood Hills home over 20 years ago.
Prosecutors built their case around the fact that Danny Masterson had used his status as an influential member of the Church of Scientology to shield himself from the law. Charlaine Olmedo, the Judge hearing the case, allowed the 3 victims to read out impact statements ahead of the sentencing. The sentencing of Danny Masterson was attended by Leah Remini, actress, and former famous Scientologist. She was seen comforting the women during the trial and when they delivered their statements.
Danny Masterson Convicted In Re-Trial After The First One Ended Without A Conclusion
One of the three women stated before the media that she wished she had reported him to the law enforcement authorities. Danny Masterson stayed quiet throughout the trial. As the sentence was read, handing down the actor the maximum sentence allowed, Bijou Phillips, his wife, broke down in tears. Earlier in May this year, Danny Masterson was found guilty after a retrial. After the conviction, Masterson was declared likely to escape and taken into custody.
All the women stated that Danny Masterson violently assaulted them sexually at his home between 2001 and 2003, which was during the peak of his fame as a television actor. He is alleged to have drugged them before the attack. The lawyer representing one of the women said that despite constant harassment, intimidation, and obstruction, the courageous women had persisted in helping bring a ruthless sex predator to book.