That '70s Show Star Danny Masterson Gets 30 Years to Life for Raping Two Women

Actor Danny Masterson, best known for his role as Steven Hyde in the hit sitcom That '70s Show, was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women at his Hollywood home in the early 2000s.

Masterson, 47, was convicted on two counts of forcible rape in May after a second trial, following a mistrial in December 2020 due to a deadlocked jury. The jury could not reach a verdict on a third count, involving another woman who accused Masterson of raping her while they were dating.

The two women who testified against Masterson said he had drugged them before assaulting them. One of them said he had choked her until she passed out and then raped her. The other said he had threatened her with a gun and forced her to have sex with him.

Masterson, who denied the charges and maintained his innocence, showed no emotion as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence. He also did not speak before or after the sentencing.

The judge also heard statements from the victims, who described the trauma and pain they suffered from the attacks and the subsequent harassment by Masterson’s supporters, including members of the Church of Scientology, of which Masterson and the victims were once part of.

The prosecution argued that Masterson had used his fame and influence as a prominent Scientologist to silence and intimidate the women, who were discouraged from reporting the rapes to the police by the church officials. The church denied any involvement in the case and any wrongdoing.

Masterson’s lawyers said they would appeal the verdict and the sentence, calling them unfair and unjust. They also accused the judge of bias and misconduct, and claimed that the media attention and public pressure had influenced the jury’s decision.

Masterson’s career has been in limbo since he was first accused of rape in 2017, amid the rise of the #MeToo movement. He was fired from his Netflix show The Ranch and dropped by his talent agency. He also faces a civil lawsuit from four women who allege he sexually assaulted them.

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