Danny Masterson Officially Files To Appeal His Rape Conviction

Danny Masterson is appealing his rape conviction after he was convicted of raping two women in May.

Best known for his role in “That 70s Show,” the now 47-year-old actor has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for his crimes.

In May, Danny Masterson was convicted of raping two women. In September, a judge sentenced him to 30 years to life in prison.

However, according to court documents obtained by The Blast, the actor filed to appeal his sentence on November 3, 2023.

His victims have yet to speak on the appeal. Before he was sentenced, both of the two women he was convicted of raping gave victim impact statements to the judge. “When you raped me, you stole from me,” said Masterson’s 2003 victim, as per the Associated Press. “That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.”

“You are pathetic, disturbed, and completely violent,” she added. “The world is better off with you in prison.”

The other victim told the court that she “knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with,” adding, “I am so sorry, and I’m so upset. I wish I’d reported him sooner to the police.”

Masterson had been charged in 2020 with forcibly raping three women in three separate incidents that took place between 2001 and 2003. He pleaded not guilty to all three charges in January 2021. In May 2021, all three accusers took the stand to detail their allegations in a preliminary hearing.

After the verdict was announced in September, Masterson's defense attorney Shawn Holley said in a statement to People magazine that the actor plans to appeal the lengthy sentence.

"For the past several months, a team of the top appellate lawyers in the country has been reviewing the 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," the statement said.

"The errors which occurred in this case are substantial and unfortunately, led to verdicts which are not supported by the evidence," Holley's statement continued. "And though we have great respect for the jury in this case and for our system of justice overall, sometimes they get it wrong. And that's what happened here. Mr. 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."

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón gave his own statement, saying, "This has been a long and arduous road for the victims of Mr. Masterson. They not only survived his abuse, they also survived a system that is often not kind to victims. I applaud their courage for coming forward and participating in this process. My hope is that this sentence will somehow bring them peace and that their bravery will be an example to others. I also want to thank the entire trial team. This was a very difficult case but due to their hard work, experience, and commitment, justice was finally served today. One of my top priorities is to ensure that Los Angeles will no longer be a hunting ground for Hollywood elite who feel entitled to prey on women."

Shortly after the sentencing, his wife, Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce after Masterson agreed to give up custody of their daughter, who is a minor. As The Blast previously reported, the church of Scientology has expelled “The Ranch” star, labeling him a “suppressive person.” The church defines a “suppressive person” or “SP” as someone whose conduct impedes the spiritual growth of those around them.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, private investigator Jeffrey Augustine, who was a former Scientologist, gave a detailed explanation as to why the organization decided to expel Masterson after showing support for him through his court trials.

“According to my sources, Danny has been declared a suppressive person, which means he would be expelled from Scientology. They are telling Scientologists that he will file an appeal and that he is innocent of the charges for which he was convicted,” Austine said.

“They (church officials) declared Danny a suppressive person for not maintaining the high ethical standards for the Church of Scientology, and other reasons – but not because he was convicted of rape,” he added.

Augustine added, “They are not going to make a public announcement. They are going to tell everyone at this big, posh London event don’t talk about it, don’t mention Danny. He has now become a person whose name must not be mentioned.”