Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison Thursday for two rapes he committed in 2003.
“Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here,” California Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo told the actor in court, according to journalist Meghann Cuniff.
“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.”
All of Masterson’s accusers were given the opportunity to give impact statements at the hearing.
“You relish in hurting women. It is your addiction. It is without question your favorite thing to do,” one of the victims said, per Cuniff.
Leah Remini, a vocal adversary of Masterson, was reportedly present at the sentencing.
The “That ’70s Show” alum, who was seen for the first time in jail garb Thursday, received the maximum possible sentence.
Masterson, 47, was found guilty of his crimes in May during a retrial after the first trial resulted in a hung jury in November 2022. The panel deliberated for seven hours.
However, the jury agreed on only two of the three counts at the retrial earlier this year. The third, pertaining to a woman identified only as Jane Doe No. 3, was declared a mistrial and dismissed.
The three women who came forward to accuse Masterson of sexual abuse were one who claimed he had raped her in the winter of 2001 when she was 23; one who claimed her rape took place in April 2003 when she was 28; and another whose alleged incident took place around the fall and winter of 2003 when she was 23.
One of the women was an ex-girlfriend and all accusers were reportedly part of the Church of Scientology.
According to ABC News, they were hesitant to come forward at first because the church allegedly discouraged its members from reporting crimes to the police. They have all since left the church.
Testimony in the second trial accused the “Men at Work” alum of drugging his victims before sexually assaulting them. The ex-girlfriend claimed she had to pull his hair to stop him from raping her.
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Masterson entered a plea of not guilty in January 2021.
“We’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify,” his attorney, Tom Mesereau, told the Hollywood Reporter at the time.
“Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out. The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false.”
Masterson, who is a Scientologist, has been married to actress Bijou Phillips since 2011.
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A source told People in June that the “Raising Hope” alum was “shocked and devastated” over her husband’s conviction.
“She wasn’t prepared for the verdict,” the insider added. “She never expected him to be found guilty. She couldn’t believe that he was taken into custody right away and remanded.”
Phillips, 43, allegedly also felt “terrified” over Masterson’s sentencing, per the source.
After the guilty verdict, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón released a statement praising the three women who came forward.
“Their courage and strength have been an inspiration to us all,” he said in part in May.
“While we are disappointed that the jury did not convict on all counts, we respect their decision. The verdicts handed down by the jury in this case were undoubtedly a difficult one to reach and we thank the jurors for their service.”
Gascón added that his team “will continue to educate the public on the importance of consent, healthy relationships, and bystander intervention.”
He concluded, “We believe that by working together, we can create a safer and more just society for all.”
