Danny (*30*) sentenced to 30 years to life in prison

LOS ANGELES — “That ’70s Present” star Danny (*30*) was sentenced Thursday to 30 years to life in prison for raping two ladies greater than twenty years in the past at his Hollywood Hills dwelling.

(*30*), 47, confirmed no seen emotion after Los Angeles County Superior Court docket Choose Charlaine Olmedo threw the guide at him.

“Mr. (*30*), I do know that you simply’re sitting right here steadfast in your claims of innocence and thus little question feeling victimized by a justice system that has failed you,” Olmedo mentioned simply earlier than she dispatched (*30*) to prison. “However Mr. (*30*), you aren’t the sufferer right here.”

(*30*)’s spouse, Bijou Phillips, a mannequin and actor who was a relentless presence at her husband’s trials, rapidly donned a pair of sun shades after Olmedo introduced the sentence. She left the courtroom with out a phrase.

(*30*) was hit with the staggering sentence 4 months after he was convicted on two of the three rape counts he confronted at his retrial in Los Angeles. He had been charged with raping three ladies — recognized at trial as Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2 and Jane Doe #3 — from 2001 to 2003.

(*30*), a once-popular sitcom star, didn’t take the stand at both of his trials. He has, by way of his legal professionals, repeatedly denied sexually assaulting the ladies.

Neither did (*30*) make any assertion at his sentencing. As an alternative, he sat silently as the 2 ladies he was convicted of raping, in addition to a former girlfriend whose rape accusation the jury deadlocked over in Might, took turns urging the decide to hit him with a harsh punishment.

“While you raped me, you stole from me,” Jane Doe #2 informed the court docket. “That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.”

“You’re pathetic, disturbed and utterly violent,” she mentioned. “The world is healthier off with you in prison.”

Jane Doe #1 mentioned (*30*) “has not proven an oz. of regret for the ache he prompted.”

“I knew he belonged behind bars for the protection of all the ladies he got here into contact with,” she mentioned. “I’m so sorry, and I’m so upset. I want I’d reported him sooner to the police.”

Jane Doe #3 mentioned (*30*)’s actions sentenced her to “viewing my physique as a criminal offense scene my total life.”

In a post-sentencing assertion, Los Angeles County District Lawyer George Gascón mentioned he applauded the ladies for “coming ahead and taking part in this course of.”

“My hope is that this sentence will by some means deliver them peace and that their bravery can be an instance to others,” Gascón mentioned. “One among my high priorities is to be certain that Los Angeles will now not be a searching floor for Hollywood elite who really feel entitled to prey on ladies.” 

Shawn Holley, certainly one of (*30*)’s legal professionals, mentioned in a press release the authorized battle is just not over.  

“And although now we have nice respect for the jury in this case and for our system of justice total, generally they get it unsuitable,” Holley mentioned. “And that’s what occurred right here.”

“Mr. (*30*) didn’t commit the crimes for which he has been convicted and we and the appellate legal professionals — one of the best and the brightest in the nation — are assured that these convictions can be overturned.”

(*30*)’s first trial ended in November with a mistrial, with jurors leaning towards acquittal. His second trial ended together with his being convicted of raping Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 however not Jane Doe #3 as a result of the jurors couldn’t attain a call.

All three accusers are former members of the Church of Scientology, to which (*30*) belongs.

Each trials targeted undesirable consideration on the controversial church, which the ladies have accused of making an attempt to cowl up the allegations.

On the retrial, Olmedo confused that Scientology was not a defendant. However she allowed witnesses to testify that church officers pressured them not to speak to police concerning the rape allegations.

Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw repeatedly denied these allegations and insisted that church doctrine requires members to “abide by all of the legal guidelines of the land.”

After (*30*)’s sentencing, the church launched a press release that didn’t point out (*30*) by identify; it mentioned the prosecution’s “introduction of faith into this trial was an unprecedented violation of the First Modification.”

“The Church was not a celebration to this case and faith didn’t belong in this continuing as Supreme Court docket precedent has maintained for hundreds of years,” it mentioned.

CORRECTION (Sept. 7, 2023, 6:33 p.m. ET): A earlier model of this text misstated the result of (*30*)’s retrial in Might. He was not acquitted of the third rely of rape; the jury was deadlocked on that rely.

Angela Yang and Diana Dasrath reported from Los Angeles. Corky Siemaszko reported from New York Metropolis.