Danny Masterson lost his appeal of his rape conviction, with a California appellate court upholding his 2023 conviction and 30-years-to-life prison sentence.
According to an 89-page opinion reviewed by Complex, the court rejected all 11 of actor’s arguments challenging his conviction on Tuesday (Oct. 27).
The 50-year-old argued that evidence about Scientology unfairly influenced jurors. The court disagreed, saying jurors were not asked to judge Scientology's teachings. It also rejected his claim that too much time had passed to prosecute him, ruling that the law allows charges involving forcible rape of multiple victims to proceed without a time limit.
The former That 70’s Show star was convicted in 2023 of forcibly raping two victims, identified as J.B. and N.T. in court documents, at his Hollywood Hills home in 2003. Jurors deadlocked on a separate 2001 allegation involving his former girlfriend C.B.
The judgment also outlines testimonies from multiple victims and witnesses during Masterson's trial. Victims J.B. and N.T. testified to being forcibly raped by Masterson at his Hollywood Hills home in 2003 after consuming drinks he provided that left them intoxicated and impaired.
Masterson’s former girlfriend C.B. testified that the actor admitted to having nonconsensual anal sex with her while she was unconscious in 2001.
Additionally, uncharged misconduct witness Kathleen J. testified that Masterson drugged and raped her at a 2000 party. The victims explained that Scientology tenets, ethics officers, and fears of excommunication prevented them from reporting the crimes to law enforcement immediately.
Expert witnesses also provided testimony, with a forensic psychiatrist explaining rape trauma, a toxicologist addressing date-rape drugs, and a Scientology expert discussing church policies against reporting members.
