Danny Masterson is appealing his rape conviction after he was convicted of raping two women in May.
Best known for his role on “That 70s Show,” the now 47-year-old actor was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for his crimes.
Danny Masterson To Appeal Rape Conviction
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In May, Danny Masterson was convicted of raping two women. In September, a judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison.
However, according to court documents obtained by The Blast, the actor filed an appeal against his sentence on November 3, 2023.
The victim has yet to speak about the appeal. Before being sentenced, the two women who were convicted of rape gave victim impact statements to the judge. “When you raped me, you stole from me,” Masterson’s victim said in 2003, according to the Associated Press. “That’s rape, soul stealing.”
“You are pathetic, disturbed, and downright violent,” he added. “The world is better with you in prison.”
Another victim told the court she “knew he was in jail for the safety of all the women he met,” adding, “I’m sorry, and I’m very upset. I wish I’d reported it to the police sooner.”
Masterson was charged in 2020 with forcibly raping three women in three separate incidents that occurred between 2001 and 2003. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges in January 2021. In May 2021, all three accusers took the stand detailing their allegations in preliminary hearing.
Masterson’s Defense Attorney Announces Intent to Appeal
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After the verdict was announced in September, Masterson’s defense attorney Shawn Holley said in a statement to People magazine that the actor planned to appeal the lengthy sentence.
“For the past few months, a team of top appellate lawyers in the country have been reviewing the trial transcripts. They have identified a number of important evidentiary and constitutional issues that they will brief to both state and federal appellate courts,” the statement said.
“The error that occurred in this case was egregious and, unfortunately, led to a decision that was not supported by the evidence,” Holley’s statement continued. “And while we have the utmost respect for the jury in this case and for our justice system as a whole, sometimes they get it wrong. And that’s what happened here. Mr. Masterson did not commit the crime for which he was convicted and we–and the appellate lawyers — the best and brightest in the country — are confident that this conviction will be overturned.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón gave his own statement, saying, “This has been a long and difficult road for the victims of Mr. Masterson. Not only did they survive his abuse, they also survived a system that was often unfair to the victims. I applaud their courage in coming forward and participating in this process. It is my hope that this verse will bring peace to them and their courage will be an example to others. I would also like to thank the entire trial team. This was a very difficult case but because of their hard work, experience and commitment, justice was finally served today. One of my priorities is to make sure Los Angeles is no longer a hunting ground for the Hollywood elite who feel entitled to prey on women.”
Danny Masterson Labeled ‘Oppressive Man’ By The Church Of Scientology
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Shortly after the sentencing, his wife, Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce after Masterson agreed to give up custody of their daughter, who is still a minor. As The Blast previously reported, the church of Scientology has expelled the star of “The Ranch,” labeling him an “oppressive person.” The Church defines an “oppressive person” or “SP” as someone whose behavior hinders the spiritual growth of those around them.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, private investigator Jeffrey Augustine, who is a former Scientologist, gave a detailed explanation of why the organization decided to fire Masterson after showing support for him through his court hearing.
“According to my source, Danny has been declared an oppressor, which means he will be expelled from Scientology. They told Scientologists that he will file an appeal and that he is innocent of the charges he has been convicted of,” Austine said.
“They (church officials) declared Danny an oppressor for not maintaining high ethical standards for the Church of Scientology, and other reasons – but not because he was convicted of rape,” he added.
Augustine added, “They will not make a public announcement. They’re going to tell everyone at this big, fancy London event don’t talk about it, don’t mention Danny. He has now become a man who cannot be named.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
