Actor Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being convicted of raping two women two decades ago. Los Angeles superior court judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to Masterson, 47, after hearing statements from the women about the trauma and suffering they experienced, The Guardian reported.
Masterson was found guilty of two counts of rape in May. The Church of Scientology was mentioned prominently in the trial, which was a rare prosecution of a Hollywood figure in the #MeToo era. Reportedly, Masterson used his role in the Church to avoid accountability for the charges.
Masterson starred in That 70s Show alongside Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. One of the women who accused him of rape said, “When you raped me, you stole from me.” “That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit.” “The world is better off with you in prison,” she said.
Reportedly, Masterson gave them drinks to make them woozy before raping them violently. The assaults took place in his Hollywood area home in 2003. Masterson, in 2016 appeared in another comedy The Ranch, but was written off the show in 2017 when it came to light that he was under investigation by the Los Angeles police for rape.
Masterson's lawyer Shawn Holley said that the former's life with his daughter will be impacted by the sentence.
