Danny Masterson Sentenced To 30 Years To Life Behind Bars

Three months after Danny Masterson was found guilty of two counts of rape, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has sentenced him to 30 years to life behind bars.

First arrested in 2020, in May he was found guilty of raping two women between 2001, and 2003 at his Hollywood Hills home. A jury was unable to reach a verdict on a third count alleging he raped a former girlfriend.

Prosecutors alleged he sexually assaulted three women in separate incidents. The verdict came six months after a mistrial was declared, where a jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision of three charges.

The new trial began earlier this year, where each accuser gave an emotional testimony.

They had previously accused the Church of Scientology of pressuring them into not reporting the allegations to police. 

The church denied the claims, saying the organisation "has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone—Scientologists or not—to law enforcement."

Masterson, who had previously pled not guilty, didn't testify. After his verdict, he was taken away in handcuffs as wife Bijou Phillips shed tears.

One victim, Jane Doe #2 said she was feeling a "complex array of emotions," including "relief, exhaustion, strength, sadness," in relation to the verdict, adding she was "disappointed that he was not convicted on all counts."

"But take great solace in the fact that he, the Church of Scientology, and others will have to fully account for their abhorrent actions in civil court."

Jane Doe #3, whose rape charge didn't receive a verdict, said she felt "devastated" that he"dodged criminal accountability for his heinous conduct against me."

After the sentencing, attorney for Masterson Shawn Holley said "a team of the top appellate lawyers in the country has been reviewing the transcripts of the trial" and "have identified a number of significant evidentiary and constitutional issues which they will address in briefs to both state and federal appellate courts."

He said Masterson "did not commit the crimes for which he has been convicted and we—and the appellate lawyers—the best and the brightest in the country—are confident that these convictions will be overturned."