Danny Masterson's 30-Year Sentence Stands After Appeals Court Rejection

Danny Masterson will remain in prison for the next three decades. An appeals court has denied his bid to overturn the 2023 verdict that sent him to serve a 30-year sentence for rape.

The ruling affects the finality of the criminal case against the actor, who was a lead on the television series "That 70s Show." The decision closes the current appellate phase of the proceedings, leaving Masterson to continue serving his time while his legal team prepares further challenges.

The three-judge panel issued an 89-page decision that rejected every argument presented by Masterson’s defense. A central claim in the appeal was that the trial judge, Charlaine Olmedo, showed bias against the Church of Scientology. The defense argued that a series of remarks and rulings infringed on Masterson’s First Amendment rights. The panel disagreed, finding that the judge’s statements demonstrated "no animus or departure from neutrality regarding Scientology."

The court also addressed the admission of expert testimony from a former Scientologist. The prosecution used this witness to explain why the two victims, both former members of the church, delayed reporting the incidents. They alleged that fear of retaliation for violating a rule against contacting police caused the delay. Masterson’s lawyers claimed the court improperly intruded into religious doctrine. The panel concluded that the jury was not asked to determine the truth or falsity of Scientology beliefs. It stated that admitting the evidence for those specific purposes did not violate the First Amendment.

The panel also dismissed arguments concerning the statute of limitations and other evidentiary rulings. In a separate action, the court denied a habeas corpus petition that claimed Masterson did not receive adequate legal defense during the trial.

Masterson was found guilty of raping two women at his Hollywood Hills home in 2003. Jurors could not reach a verdict on a third count involving a former girlfriend who alleged she was raped in 2001. His attorneys, Cliff Gardner and Eric Multhaup, announced plans to appeal to the California Supreme Court. They will also pursue a new habeas petition. "Danny is serving a life sentence for crimes he did not commit," Gardner said. "No one in California, not defendants and not victims who have actually been the victim of a sex crime, is safer by virtue of today’s unfortunate decision."