In a recent court ruling in Los Angeles, actor Danny Masterson, known for his role in “That ’70s Show,” has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. The judgment comes after he was found guilty of raping two women nearly two decades ago.
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Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to the 47-year-old Masterson after hearing statements from the women who shared their traumatic experiences and the suffering caused by the disturbing memories that lingered over the years.
The actor, who has been in custody since May, appeared in court wearing a suit and watched without any visible reaction as the two women spoke out against him.
One of the women, whom Masterson was convicted of raping in 2003, expressed, “When you raped me, you stole from me. That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.” She continued, saying, “You are pathetic, disturbed, and completely violent. The world is better off with you in prison.”
The other woman, who was also a victim, stated that Masterson “has not shown an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused” and emphasized that she wished she had reported him to the police sooner for the safety of other women he might have encountered.
Masterson had faced a trial earlier where a jury failed to reach a verdict on three counts of rape in December, leading to a mistrial. However, he was retried on all three counts, and this time, a jury consisting of seven women and five men found him guilty of two counts on May 31. Both assaults occurred in Masterson’s Hollywood-area home in 2003 during his time in the popular Fox network sitcom “That ’70s Show.”
The judge sentenced Masterson after rejecting a defense motion for a new trial. The defense had requested concurrent sentences for the two convictions and suggested a sentence of 15 years to life, while the prosecution sought the full 30 years to life sentence that Masterson was eligible for.
Throughout the case, prosecutors argued that Masterson had used his influence in the Church of Scientology, of which all three women were also members at the time, to evade consequences for his actions. The women testified that when they reported the assaults to Scientology officials, they were discouraged from pursuing legal action and were even subjected to their own ethics programs.
Masterson did not testify during the trial, and his lawyers did not call any witnesses. The defense claimed that the encounters were consensual and attempted to challenge the credibility of the women’s accounts by pointing out changes and inconsistencies over time.
Masterson’s conviction and sentencing mark a significant moment in the #MeToo era, following the conviction of Harvey Weinstein last year. While the investigation into Masterson began before the wave of allegations against Weinstein emerged, it represents another instance where justice has been served for victims of sexual assault in the entertainment industry.
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