Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for rape – National | 24CA News
That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in jail on Thursday for raping two girls.
The resolution got here after a Los Angeles jury discovered Masterson, 47, responsible of two of three counts of forcible rape throughout a retrial in May.
Jurors couldn’t attain a unanimous verdict on the third depend, which alleged Masterson raped a longtime girlfriend. The third depend was declared a mistrial and has been dismissed by prosecutors, who stated they won’t retry the fees.
As Masterson’s sentence was being learn aloud within the courtroom, Judge Charlaine Olmedo had harsh phrases for the once-beloved actor.
“Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another person’s choice and voice,” Olmedo stated. “Your actions 20 years ago today were criminal, and that’s why you are here.”
The decide allowed all three girls within the trial — recognized as Jane Doe 1, 2 and three —to offer sufferer influence statements on the sentencing.
Two of the victims learn their statements aloud. The third, Masterson’s former girlfriend, had hers learn by a prosecutor, in line with journalist Meghann Cuniff, who was current on the sentencing listening to.
Jane Doe 1 instructed the courtroom she hoped Masterson can be handed a life sentence. She stated she regrets not reporting him to police ahead of she did.
“You relish in hurting women. It is your addiction. It is without question your favourite thing to do,” stated Jane Doe 2.
She stated she forgives Masterson and inspired him to “learn something” and “read books” whereas in jail.
In the assertion supplied by Masterson’s ex-girlfriend, she stated she now suffers from a number of debilitating illnesses, together with anxiousness, on account of his abuse.
Masterson’s lawyer instructed the decide the actor wouldn’t be talking within the courtroom. His authorized workforce requested the decide for the sentence to be 15 years, served concurrently.
Bijou Phillips, Masterson’s spouse, was seen sporting darkish sun shades within the courtroom and gave the impression to be crying at some factors all through the listening to.
Cuniff stated actor Leah Remini was additionally within the courtroom. Remini, a former scientologist, has been vocally outspoken towards Masterson and the Church of Scientology. In August, Remini sued the Church of Scientology for harassment, stalking, defamation and myriad different alleged unlawful actions.
Masterson pleaded not responsible to the fees towards him. The retrial was known as after final 12 months’s authentic trial on the identical three counts led to a mistrial when a jury deadlocked, failing to achieve unanimous verdicts.
During the second trial this 12 months, deputy district legal professional Reinhold Mueller and his workforce tried to color Masterson as a serial rapist who has been protected by high-ranking officers within the Church of Scientology. (Masterson and his household are all members of the church.) They claimed Masterson, on separate events, put medicine into the drinks of a longtime girlfriend and two different girls he knew by means of the church earlier than he raped them.
Masterson didn’t face any drug-related fees. However, two of his attorneys confronted monetary sanctions after they leaked delicate trial details about Masterson’s accusers to the Church of Scientology.
The former TV star didn’t testify in the course of the retrial, and his attorneys known as no witnesses. The defence argued that the acts had been consensual and tried to discredit the ladies’s tales by highlighting modifications and inconsistencies over time, which they stated confirmed indicators of coordination between them.
Masterson has been in custody since his verdict was introduced in May, as he was deemed a possible flight danger.
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If you or somebody you already know is experiencing abuse or is concerned in an abusive state of affairs, please go to the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for assist. They are additionally reachable toll-free at 1-877-232-2610.
— With information from The Associated Press
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