The sexual assault case against Danny Masterson has been unfolding since 2017, but his crimes began well over two decades ago. Its chapter was finally closed in May 2023 when the actor was convicted of the rape charges against him.
Multiple women have come out with their traumatic personal experiences with Masterson, including actresses whom he had dated or worked with. The common theme between most of them is that the accused was using drugs to make them defenseless before taking advantage of them.
The events surrounding the case show the importance of witness testimonies, and justice has been served to the unforgivable molester. So here we are with all the details of the case.
Who Is Danny Masterson?
Danny Masterson is an American actor famous for his role as Steven Hyde in ‘That 70’s Show’ that ran from 1998-2006. He was also cast in Men at Work and The Ranch but was fired from the latter project as rape allegations were brought up against him.
Due to the rape trial, he was the only surviving cast member who was not invited back to the sequel series, ‘That 90’s Show.’
He is a Scientologist and began dating actress Bijou Philips in 2004, whom he later married in 2011. The couple has one daughter, who was born in February 2014.
What Did Danny Masterson Do?
Danny Masterson has been convicted of two counts of rape, and a jury deadlocked on the accusations of a third woman. The women were sexually assaulted at his Hollywood home from 2001-2003, during the height of his fame as an actor. He was accused of giving them spiked drinks that would make them blurry, and he would then rape them when they could not fight.
The LAPD began investigating the actor in March 2017 after three women complained against him and claimed they were assaulted. By November of the same year, a fourth victim had come up as well, along with actress Chrissie Carnell, who worked alongside him, claimed that she was also raped.
The accusers of Masterson revealed that a Netflix executive told them the company higher-ups didn’t think the allegations were credible. The man was later fired by Netflix. Shortly after, Netflix fired Masterson from The Ranch.
In December 2017, actress Bobette Riales, who dated Masterson in the early 2000s, came forward to seek justice as she claimed he had repeatedly raped her.
In August 2019, the four victims filed a lawsuit against Masterson and the Church of Scientology as they were intimidated and stalked after coming out with their accusations. The women accused that their privacy was invaded, and families were harassed. Both parties outright denied the claims.
Masterson was charged with raping three women in June 2020 and was arrested, and in October, it was announced that his case would move forward. In 2021, the actor pleaded ‘not guilty.’
The three women took their stand to describe their traumatizing experiences in May 2021 and later testified as witnesses in November 2022. Finally, in May 2023, the accused was convicted of his crimes.
What Was the Evidence Against Danny Masterson?
The testimony of the three victims who accused Danny Masterson of rape led to him being jailed. According to the reports, he had drugged them or spiked their drinks before assaulting them.
The LAPD’s involvement in the case was influenced by many police reports. A report by journalist Tony Ortega that elaborated on the crimes against the women also helped the case. However, there was a noticeable absence of toxicological evidence to support the women’s claims that they were drugged.
How Many Years will Danny Masterson Serve?
Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years of life in prison. The sentence comes after the jury found him guilty of two counts of rape that took place in the early 2000s.
The two women gave victim impact statements before he was sentenced. The 2003 victim stated, “When you raped me, you stole from me. That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit. You are pathetic, disturbed, and completely violent. The world is better off with you in prison.”
The second victim stated that Danny had not shown an ounce of remorse for the pain he had inflicted on the women.
“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.”
I am sure that the world is better off without the man who has been hiding behind his Scientology contacts to cover up the multiple rape cases.
Comment down below if you think his sentence could be even more severe or if the Church of Scientology should be held accountable as well.
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