Masterson's 30-Year Sentence Stays

A California appeals court has affirmed Danny Masterson's 2023 convictions for rape, keeping his sentence of 30 years to life in prison intact. The three-judge panel issued the decision on Tuesday, ending the first stage of the actor's legal challenge.

The ruling followed a retrial in 2023, which came after a 2022 trial ended without a verdict. In the second proceeding, jurors convicted Masterson on two counts involving women he allegedly assaulted in 2003. They remained deadlocked on a third count involving an alleged assault in 2001. Masterson, now 50, is best known for his role on the television series That '70s Show.

The accusers were members of the Church of Scientology during the alleged assaults. They told the court that their affiliation with the religion delayed their reporting to police. Witnesses testified that Scientology officials told them the rapes did not happen, required them to complete ethics programs, and advised against reporting a high-ranking member to law enforcement.

Masterson's appellate attorneys, Cliff Gardner and Eric Multhaup, argued that the trial judge violated the First Amendment by showing hostility toward the church. They claimed this denied the actor his right to the free exercise of religion. The panel reviewed the judge's comments and found no evidence of bias. The decision states that the remarks showed no animus or departure from neutrality.

The court also rejected arguments regarding the statute of limitations and specific evidentiary rulings. The judges unanimously concluded that the trial court did not make errors serious enough to warrant a new trial. They also denied a separate habeas corpus petition that questioned the adequacy of Masterson's defense.

The 89-page opinion noted that jurors were not asked to evaluate the truth of Scientology beliefs. The court found that admitting evidence about the church did not infringe on constitutional rights. Masterson's representatives had not responded to inquiries by publication time.

Attorneys Gardner and Multhaup said in a statement to Variety that they intend to appeal to the California Supreme Court. They also plan to pursue a separate petition to continue challenging the conviction.