Danny Masterson has received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison following his earlier rape conviction this year.
Renowned for his roles in the hit Fox sitcom “That 70’s Show” and Netflix’s “The Ranch,” Masterson faced the possibility of serving 30 years to life behind bars.
Despite maintaining his innocence, the actor was found guilty on two of three forcible rape charges in May.
The accusations against Masterson revolved around incidents in which he was alleged to have raped three women at his Hollywood Hills residence between 2001 and 2003, a period that coincided with his time on “That 70’s Show.”
The jury rendered guilty verdicts for two 2003 cases but failed to reach a unanimous decision regarding an allegation from November 2001, which involved a former girlfriend. Nonetheless, the majority of jurors supported conviction.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo imposed the sentence on the 47-year-old Masterson after listening to the women describe the trauma they endured and the suffering caused by the haunting memories over the years.
Masterson, who had been in custody since May, appeared in court dressed in a suit. While the women shared their experiences, Masterson sat in court without displaying any visible reaction.
One of the women, who Masterson was found guilty of raping in 2003, asserted, “When you raped me, you stole from me. That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.“
She continued, “You are pathetic, disturbed, and completely violent. The world is better off with you in prison.“
The other woman, who also Masterson was convicted of raping, commented that he had “not shown an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused.“
She addressed the judge, saying, “I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with. I am so sorry, and I’m so upset. I wish I’d reported him sooner to the police.”
It’s worth noting that a hung jury resulted in a mistrial last year. In May, prosecutors retried Masterson, presenting evidence that he had drugged the women’s drinks and asserting that the church attempted to silence them.
The jury ultimately found him guilty on two counts of rape but couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict regarding the allegation that he had raped his longtime girlfriend.
