In the ongoing legal saga surrounding former “The 70s Show” actor Danny Masterson, recent updates shed light on developments following his rape conviction. Despite his lawyers’ request for bail to facilitate an appeal, a Los Angeles court denied the motion, citing concerns about Masterson’s potential flight risk given the severity of his sentence. Additionally, viral courtroom sketches captured Masterson’s stoic demeanor during the sentencing, coupled with his emotional exchange with his estranged wife Bijou Masterson. Masterson’s conviction and subsequent sentence of 30 years to life in prison marks a significant chapter in a case that has garnered widespread attention and sparked debate about accountability and justice in s*xual assault cases. As Masterson’s legal team prepares for an appeal, the effects of the trial continue to reverberate in the legal and public spheres.
UPDATE 25/01/2023: Danny Masterson’s lawyers have applied for bail to continue working on his appeal and the court has already ruled.
Updated sources say that on January 24, a Los Angeles court denied Masterson’s bail request, citing the disgraced actor’s flight risk. “If the defendant’s conviction and sentence are upheld on appeal, he will likely remain in prison for decades and possibly the rest of his life,” Judge Charlaine Olmedo said in her ruling.
As a result, Judge Olmedo believes this provides Masterson with every motive to flee. “With no wife to come home to, defendant now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his long sentence if his appeal was unsuccessful.”
As previously reported by Mamas Uncut, after his two rape convictions and subsequent thirty-year prison sentence, Masterson relinquished custody of the daughter he shares with his estranged wife, Bijou Masterson. Danny and Bijou are currently divorcing through legal procedures.
UPDATE 8/9/2023: After Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, a sketch of him in the courtroom has gone viral. Although there have been allegations that the former actor was emotionless during the trial, people are noticing what he did after he was convicted.
Masterson turned around, found his wife, Bijou Masterson, and kissed her, according to a sketch created at the scene. Like her husband, Bijou was inconsolable in the courtroom.
She lost control to the point where the judge asked her to leave the room. “Can you keep your composure? I’m aware of how hard it is. If not, I need you to get out.”
Danny Masterson, famous for playing Steven Hyde on That 70’s Show, has discovered his destiny. In May 2023, the 47-year-old was found guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 30 years to life. It is the maximum sentence that can be handed down and he will be eligible for parole after 25 and a half years.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo noted, “Mr. Masterson, I know you sit here steadfast in your claims of innocence, and therefore you no doubt feel victimized by a justice system that has failed you,” to read his sentence.
She insisted that the ladies were suffering here, not him.
But in this case, Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim. Twenty years ago, your actions took away another person’s voice and choice. You will have to accept the results of your earlier elections one way or another, Olmedo added. Masterson was said to have shown no emotion at the sentencing.
In case you missed it, Danny Masterson was first taken into custody in June 2020 and subsequently charged with three counts of involuntary s*xual assault. At the height of his celebrity, he was accused of raping two more women in 2003 – a 28-year-old and a 23-year-old – at his home. In 2001, he was accused of raping a 23-year-old ex-girlfriend.
Originally set for August 29, his first trial began on October 11, 2022, and both sides rested their case a month later. Unfortunately for the plaintiffs, the judge declared the jury guilty after weeks of deliberations, leading to a stalemate. On April 24, 2023, a new trial period began and ended on May 17, 2023.
After deliberating for two weeks, the jury found him guilty of two counts of rape from 2003 but deadlocked on the third count, finding him guilty on two counts but not guilty on the third. The jury needed to reach a unanimous verdict to find him guilty of the 2001 incident.
He was sentenced to a maximum of 30 years to life in prison for the two rape charges he was found guilty of, and that’s exactly what he got on Thursday, September 7th.
Both accused expressed regret for not speaking to police sooner and spoke of the psychological and physical harm they had suffered as a result of his aggressive behavior.
Danny Masterson’s defense called for fifteen years to life.
The defense wanted the sentences to run concurrently, which would have resulted in 15 years to life in prison, but prosecutors ruled that Danny Masterson should serve the full 30 years to life. The judge decided to support the prosecution.
What you decide to do today will have an impact on his life. Masterson’s attorney, Shawn Holley, told the judge, “And the life of his 9-year-old daughter, who means the world to him and to whom he means the world.” He said Masterson led an exemplary life and fulfilled his duties as a husband and father.
His defense played downshifts and inconsistencies in survivors’ testimony as the trial continued, arguing that the s*xual activities he carried out in 2003 were voluntary. They claimed to interpret this as evidence of collusion between the two as they worked to smear his integrity, character, and public image.
Although both ladies claimed that Danny Masterson gave them drugs before the events, there was no toxicological evidence and Danny Masterson was not prosecuted for any drug-related offenses. Masterson and his legal team are working on an appeal.
In conclusion, the legal saga surrounding former “The 70s Show” actor Danny Masterson continues to unfold with new developments. Despite his lawyers’ efforts to secure bail pending his appeal, a Los Angeles court denied the request, citing concerns about his potential flight risk given his lengthy prison sentence. Additionally, Masterson’s emotional courtroom reaction to his sentencing, as captured in the viral sketch, contrasts with his wife Bijou Masterson’s visible distress during the trial. With Masterson facing 30 years to life in prison for the rape conviction, the aftermath of the trial has left lasting effects on both his personal life and public image. As the trial continues, Masterson’s defense team prepares to file an appeal while grappling with the complexity of the case and its implications for the future.