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‘That ‘70s Show’ actor Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years in prison for rapes
“That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years in prison Thursday for raping two women at the heighღt of his celebrity two decades ago.
Masterson, 47 — who was found guilty of raping victims Jen B. and N. Trout in his Hollywood-area home back in 2003 — remained silent in court as he was sentenced to 15 years for each count, which will be served consecutively, the maximum sentence allowable under the law.
“One way or another you will have to come to terms with your prior actions, and their consequences,” Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Char💟laine Olmedoe told Masterson.
N. Trout slammed the actor as a violent man but sai♐d she forgave him and hopes he’ll improve in prison,
“You relish in hurting women. It is your addiction. It is without question your favorite thing to do,” she read in her victim impact statement before the sentencing.
“Life is precious and fragile. Find your heart … Learn something. Read books. Listen to the brightness of nothing and get well. I forgive you,” she added.
Jen B., meanwhile, used her time to reiterate that there was no conspiracy to take dow🌱n Mast﷽erson or the Church of Scientology.
Prosecutors alleged that Masterson used his celebrity and prominence in the Church of Scientology — where his victims were also members — to skirt the law and avoid accountability.
“Sorry, Leah’s not behind this,” Jen B. said, referencing actress Leah Remini, a former meꦅmber of the church who has become a🔥n outspoken critic.
The victims testified that they were given drinks by Masterson that made them pass out, and he proceeded to violently rape them.
Prosecutors said N. Trout was raped so viciously that she threw up𝓀 in her mouth and begged Masterson to at least use a co🎶ndom.
When the women reported Masterson to Scientology officials, they were told♔ they were not raped and were put through an ethics program.
They told the court that Scientology officials also warned them not to report 🐎the crime to the police 📖because Masterson was such a high-ranking member of the church.
Although a jury found Masterson guilty of two counts of rape following an initial deadlocked vote, the panel could not reach a unanimous verdict on a third count alleging Masterson also as𝓰saulted his longtime girlfriend Christina Bixler.
Mas🐻terson has denied any wrongdoing but did not test💞ify in court, nor did his lawyers call any witnesses to the stand.
Instead, the defense argued that the sexual acts were consensual, and accused the women of coordinating stories to discredit the former Hol🎐l♎ywood star.
Masterson was never charged with any counts of drugging, and there is no toxicology evidence to back up the women’s story.
Folꦇlowing the sentencing hearing, defense attorney Shawn Holley told reporters outside the courthouse that she was filing an appeal.
“For tꦺhe past several months, a team of the top appellate lawyers in the country has been reviewing transcripts of the trial. They have identified a number of significant evidentiary and constitutional issues which 🥃they will address in briefs to both state and federal appellate courts,” she said.
“The errors which occurred in this case are substantial and unfortunately led to verdicts which are not supported by the evidence,” she added. “ And though we have great respect for theꦑ jury in this case and for our system of justice overall, sometimes they get it wrong.”
The Church of Scientology also issued a statement labeling the women’s testimony “uniformly false.”
“The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging🐭 members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone — Scientologists or not — to law enfo💖rcement,” the statement said.
With Post wires
