California appeals court upholds Danny Masterson’s rape conviction

A California appeals court has rejected actor Danny Masterson’s appeal against his 2023 rape conviction, upholding both the guilty verdict and his sentence of 30 years to life in prison.

Variety reports that a three-judge panel issued an 89-page opinion rejecting all the grounds for appeal presented by Masterson’s lawyers, including the argument that the trial judge was biased against Scientology, of which the actor is a member, CE Report quotes ANSA.

Best known for the series That ’70s Show, Masterson was convicted in 2023 on two counts of forcible rape involving incidents that took place at his Hollywood Hills home in 2003.

He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for each count, with the sentences to be served consecutively. Jurors, however, were unable to reach a verdict on a third charge involving a former girlfriend who alleged that she had also been raped in 2001.

Photo: Instagram/dannymasterson