Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years for raping 2 women

Danny Masterson was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years in jail for raping two women at his Los Angeles house within the early 2000s. Masterson, 47, selected not to communicate throughout the listening to — he did not testify in both trial. Decide Charlaine Olmedo introduced her determination following emotional statements from his victims and “verbally dismantled Masterson’s protection,” in accordance to authorized journalist Meghann Cuniff. The actor’s lawyer stated they’re “very upset within the sentence” and can attraction.

“Mr. Masterson, you aren’t the sufferer right here. Your actions 20 years in the past took away one other particular person’s selection and voice. Your actions 20 years in the past at this time have been prison, and that is why you might be right here,” Olmedo stated in court docket.

Olmedo reportedly acknowledged how Masterson might be questioning “how one can be convicted of every cost of sexual incident occurring 20 years in the past” involving “a girl who you imagine is disgruntled and has a vendetta towards you.”

“You weren’t convicted on the testimony of 1 particular person,” the choose continued, in accordance to Cuniff.

“You weren’t convicted primarily based on rumors, innuendo, gossip and hypothesis,” Olmedo added. “You have been convicted primarily based on proof that 12 folks locally discovered to be credible. … You have been convicted as a result of every of the victims reported the rapes to somebody shortly after the rapes occurred.”

Masterson faces 30 years to life in jail. The choose denied the protection’s request that Masterson’s sentence be served concurrent as a substitute of consecutive, that means he’d be given a jail time period of solely 15 years. Masterson’s spouse, actress Bijou Phillips, who’s a well known Scientologist, reportedly cried in court docket in the beginning of the listening to.

Two of Masterson’s victims gave emotional sufferer influence statements in court docket earlier than Olmedo handed down the sentence.

“You relish in hurting women. It’s your habit. It’s with out query your favourite factor to do,” stated one of many women, recognized solely as N. Trout, reported Cuniff. (Per court docket process, the accusers’ names have been withheld from the proceedings.)

“Life is valuable and fragile. Discover your coronary heart,” Trout continued. “Pay attention to the brightness of nothing and get properly. I forgive you.”

Greatest identified for enjoying Steven Hyde on That ’70s Present, the actor was charged with forcibly raping three women — N. Trout, Jennifer B. and Chrissy B — from 2001 to 2003. After a mistrial in 2022, prosecutors went again to court docket earlier this 12 months, the place on Might 31, a second jury discovered Masterson responsible of sexually assaulting Jen B. and N. Trout. The panel was deadlocked, nonetheless, on the third rely involving Chrissy B, the actor’s longtime girlfriend.

Prosecutors learn a written assertion from Chrissy whereas Jennifer spoke in court docket. Jennifer stated the LAPD’s years-long investigation into Masterson “wasn’t simple” and known as out the Church of Scientology for alleged interference.

“It has been full of makes an attempt to silence us all, to intimidate us and even hinder,” she stated, in accordance to Cuniff. Jennifer famous how Masterson should face penalties as he is in a “actual court docket,” not Scientology’s notorious Superstar Centre in Hollywood, Calif.

The Church of Scientology loomed massive over the proceedings and each trials. Masterson was protected by the church, in accordance to his three accusers, all of whom have been former Scientologists. The women claimed they have been harassed and threatened by church officers after coming ahead to authorities, accusations refuted by the church, which claimed it was being falsely and unfairly attacked by prosecutors.

Leah Remini, who’s suing the church and its chief, David Miscavige, was in attendance at Thursday’s sentencing. The actress famously left Scientology in 2013 and has been one of many group’s most outspoken critics. Masterson’s authorized workforce accused Remini of convincing the three women to falsely accuse the actor of rape, which she has denied.

“Sorry, Leah’s not behind this,” Jennifer declared in court docket.

Hours after the listening to ended, Remini posted a lengthy statement that known as Masterson a “harmful rapist” and known as out Scientology for allegedy attempting to defend him whereas subjecting the victims to “ruthless and prison harassment.”

“Listening to the survivors learn their sufferer influence statements aloud in court docket whereas the person who raped them and a number of the very Scientologists who terrorized them over twenty years have been only a few toes away displayed a degree of bravery that I’m in awe of,” Remini wrote. “The women who survived Danny’s predation fought tirelessly for justice. Their tenacity, power, and braveness have given hope to all victims of Scientology that justice is feasible. For that, we are going to without end be grateful.”

Ultimately, the women’s highly effective statements helped punctuate a case six years within the making and put Masterson behind bars for a long time to come.

Masterson’s lawyer, Shawn Holley, issued a press release after court docket and stated they’re “assured” the conviction will probably be overturned.

“For the previous a number of months, a workforce of the highest appellate legal professionals within the nation has been reviewing the transcripts of the trial. They’ve recognized a variety of important evidentiary and constitutional points, which they may deal with in briefs to each state and federal appellate courts,” Holley said. “The errors that occurred on this case are substantial and, sadly, led to verdicts that weren’t supported by the proof. And although we’ve nice respect for the jury on this case and for our system of justice general, generally they get it unsuitable. And that is what occurred right here. Mr. Masterson didn’t commit the crimes for which he has been convicted, and we, and the appellate legal professionals, one of the best and brightest within the nation, are assured that these convictions will probably be overturned.”

The Los Angeles District Legal professional’s Workplace disagrees.

“This has been an extended and arduous highway for the victims of Mr. Masterson. They not solely survived his abuse, additionally they survived a system that’s usually not sort to victims. I applaud their braveness for coming ahead and collaborating on this course of,” District Legal professional George Gascón tells Yahoo Leisure in a press release. “My hope is that this sentence will someway carry them peace and that their bravery will probably be an instance to others. I additionally need to thank all the trial workforce. This was a really tough case however due to their exhausting work, expertise and dedication, justice was lastly served at this time. Certainly one of my prime priorities is to be sure that Los Angeles will not be a looking floor for Hollywood elite who really feel entitled to prey on women.”