Danny Masterson
| Danny Masterson | |
|---|---|
| Born: | March 13, 1976 Long Island, New York |
| Charges: | |
| Sentence: | 30 years to life in state prison |
| Facility: | California Men's Colony (California State) |
| Status: | Currently incarcerated (eligible for parole 2043) |
Daniel Peter Masterson is an American actor and disc jockey best known for playing Steven Hyde on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show (1998-2006).[1] In September 2023, Masterson was convicted of two counts of forcible rape and sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison.[2] The case drew significant attention due to Masterson's membership in the Church of Scientology and the accusers' allegations that the church had discouraged them from reporting the assaults to law enforcement.[3]
Early Life and Career
Danny Masterson was born on March 13, 1976, in Long Island, New York. He began acting as a child, appearing in commercials and television shows. His family was involved in the Church of Scientology, and Masterson has been a lifelong member of the organization.[1]
That '70s Show
Masterson's career-defining role came in 1998 when he was cast as Steven Hyde, a cynical, rebellious teenager, on That '70s Show. The Fox sitcom became a hit, running for eight seasons through 2006 and launching the careers of several actors, including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Topher Grace.[4]
Hyde was known for his conspiracy theories, anti-establishment attitude, and signature sunglasses. Masterson appeared in all 200 episodes of the series.
The Ranch
After That '70s Show ended, Masterson had various television and film roles. In 2016, he reunited with former co-star Ashton Kutcher on Netflix's The Ranch, playing Rooster Bennett for the show's first three seasons.
In December 2017, following sexual assault allegations, Netflix fired Masterson from The Ranch, and his character was written out of the series.[4]
Sexual Assault Allegations
The Accusations
Between 2001 and 2003, at the height of his fame on That '70s Show, Masterson allegedly sexually assaulted multiple women at his Hollywood Hills home. All three accusers at trial were practicing Scientologists at the time of the alleged assaults.[3]
The accusations first became public in 2017 when the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed they were investigating multiple rape allegations against Masterson dating back to the early 2000s.[5]
Scientology's Role
A central element of the case was the accusers' claims that the Church of Scientology discouraged them from reporting the assaults to police. All three women testified that they did not initially contact law enforcement because church teachings prohibit members from reporting fellow Scientologists to outside authorities.[6]
According to testimony, victims who raised concerns about Masterson were told to handle the matter internally through Scientology's own justice system rather than through criminal courts. The women alleged they faced pressure, harassment, and intimidation from church members when they eventually came forward.[6]
The Church of Scientology has denied these allegations, stating that the church does not discourage members from reporting crimes to authorities.
Criminal Case
Charges
In June 2020, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Masterson with three counts of rape by force or fear, based on incidents alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2003.[7]
First Trial (2022)
Masterson's first trial began in October 2022. After extensive testimony from the three accusers and character witnesses, the jury deadlocked. Jurors were unable to reach unanimous verdicts on any of the three counts, resulting in a mistrial in November 2022.[8]
Reports indicated that jurors had been divided, with some expressing skepticism about certain testimony and the length of time that had passed since the alleged crimes.
Second Trial and Conviction (2023)
Prosecutors retried the case in early 2023. On May 31, 2023, the jury found Masterson guilty of two counts of forcible rape involving two of the three accusers. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the third count involving a third accuser.[3]
Sentencing
On September 7, 2023, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in state prison. The sentence consisted of:
- Two consecutive 15-year sentences, one for each rape conviction
- Lifetime sex offender registration[2]
During the sentencing hearing, the victims delivered emotional impact statements describing the lasting trauma of the assaults and their subsequent treatment by the Church of Scientology. One victim stated that Masterson had "shattered" her sense of safety and that the church's efforts to silence her compounded the damage.[5]
Masterson declined to speak at sentencing and has maintained his innocence.
Incarceration
Masterson is currently serving his sentence at the California Men's Colony, a state prison in San Luis Obispo, California. He will not be eligible for parole for more than 20 years.[9]
Appeals
Habeas Corpus Petition (2025)
In November 2025, Masterson filed a petition for habeas corpus—a legal challenge to the lawfulness of his imprisonment—arguing that his conviction should be overturned due to ineffective assistance of counsel and judicial bias.[10]
The petition blamed his trial attorney, Philip Cohen, for:
- Failing to call any defense witnesses
- Not adequately challenging prosecutors' claims about Scientology
- Providing inadequate representation
The petition also alleged that Judge Olmedo engaged in "judicial bias" and made an "unconstitutional intrusion into religious doctrine" by allowing extensive testimony about Scientology's practices and beliefs.[10]
Masterson continues to maintain that anti-Scientology bias tainted the investigation and prosecution.
Connection to Scientology
Masterson has been a member of the Church of Scientology since childhood. His ex-wife, actress Bijou Phillips, is also a Scientologist, as are several of his former co-stars.[11]
The case became one of the highest-profile criminal prosecutions involving the Church of Scientology since the organization's founding. Critics of Scientology pointed to the case as evidence of the church's efforts to protect prominent members and suppress accusations of misconduct.[6]
The church has consistently denied any wrongdoing and stated that it does not discourage members from cooperating with law enforcement.
Impact and Legacy
The Masterson case became significant in several contexts:
#MeToo Movement
The prosecution occurred during the height of the #MeToo movement, which encouraged survivors of sexual assault to come forward and hold powerful men accountable. The case demonstrated that even decades-old allegations could result in criminal convictions when survivors were willing to testify.[5]
Scrutiny of Scientology
The trial brought unprecedented scrutiny to the Church of Scientology's internal justice practices and its treatment of sexual assault allegations. Testimony about the church's policies became a central focus of media coverage, reigniting debates about the organization's influence over its members.[6]
Hollywood Accountability
Masterson's firing from Netflix's The Ranch was one of the early high-profile examples of entertainment companies taking action against employees accused of sexual misconduct. The case contributed to ongoing discussions about how the entertainment industry handles allegations against prominent figures.[4]
The conviction was seen as a significant moment of accountability, particularly given the challenges of prosecuting sexual assault cases with significant time delays and the additional complications introduced by the Scientology angle.
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Danny Masterson". IMDb. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life for raping two women". Associated Press. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Danny Masterson found guilty of 2 counts of rape". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Netflix Fires Danny Masterson From 'The Ranch' Amid Rape Allegations". Variety. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Danny Masterson Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Prison". The New York Times. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "How Scientology shaped Danny Masterson rape case". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Actor Danny Masterson Charged with Raping Three Women". Los Angeles County District Attorney. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Danny Masterson trial ends in mistrial". CNN. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "California Men's Colony". California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Danny Masterson Files Motion for New Trial". TMZ. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.
- ↑ "Bijou Phillips Files for Divorce from Danny Masterson". People. Retrieved {{{access-date}}}.