Anish Vij
That ’70s Show star Danny Masterson has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for the rapes of two women.
The 47-year-old actor - who has been in custody since May of this year - was present in Los Angeles Superior Court when his sentence was handed down by Judge Charlaine F Olmedo.
After the initial jury were unable to reach verdicts on three counts of rape in December 2022, a mistrial was declared.
However, prosecutors retried Masterson on all three counts earlier this year as a jury of seven women and five men found Masterson guilty of two counts on May 31.
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Both attacks were said to have taken place in Masterson’s home in 2003.
A verdict could not be reached on the third count - an allegation that Masterson also raped a longtime girlfriend.
Although the defence sought to have sentences for the two convictions run simultaneously, and asked for a sentence of 15 years to life.
The prosecution asked for the full 30 years to life sentence Masterson was eligible for.
“When you raped me, you stole from me,” said one woman who Masterson was convicted of raping. "That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit."
"You are pathetic, disturbed and completely violent,” she said. “The world is better off with you in prison.”
The other woman told the judge: “I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with. I am so sorry, and I’m so upset. I wish I’d reported him sooner to the police.”
“It’s his life that will be impacted by what you decide today,” Masterson’s lawyer Shawn Holley told the judge before the sentencing.
“And the life of his nine-year-old daughter, who means the world to him, and to whom he means the world.
“He has lived an exemplary life, he has been an extraordinary father, husband, brother, son, co-worker and community servant.”
Judge Olmedo said: “Mr Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another person’s choice and voice. Your actions 20 years ago today were criminal, and that’s why you are here.”
Masterson, along with the women, were part of the Church of Scientology at the time.
The church said in a statement after the verdict that the 'testimony and descriptions of Scientology beliefs' during the trial were 'uniformly false'.
“The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone — Scientologists or not — to law enforcement,” the statement said.