Danny Masterson has been denied bail after a Superior Court Judge concluded that he has "every incentive to flee".
The star from That 70s Show was handed a sentence of 30 years to life on rape charges in September last year.
The sentencing, presided over by Judge Charlaine Olmedo, allowed three Jane Does involved in the case to deliver impactful victim statements. These three individuals included the two women Masterson was convicted of raping, along with a third whose count was dismissed.
One of the victims expressed: "When you raped me, you stole from me. That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit."
Masterson's legal troubles began in 2020 when he pleaded not guilty to three counts of felony rape, stemming from accusations by three different women, including a former girlfriend. The alleged incidents occurred between 2001 and 2003, per AP.
The initial trial in November 2022 ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury. Notably, all three alleged victims, including the two who testified against Masterson, were affiliated with the Church of Scientology, as is Masterson. They initially hesitated to come forward, citing church teachings discouraging reporting to law enforcement.
Masterson has since appealed his conviction but has been denied bail while the proceedings go through, per the New York Post.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo, who oversaw Masterson's original trial, emphasized the severity of the sentence in a recent statement: "If defendant’s conviction and sentence are upheld on appeal, he will likely remain in custody for decades and perhaps the rest of his life."
Notably, the judge highlighted Masterson's lack of a wife as a potential flight risk, stating: "In light of the fact that defendant has no wife to go home to, defendant now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his lengthy sentence should his appeal be unsuccessful."
Despite Masterson's appeal for bail, his attorneys argued for his eligibility to be an "at-home parent and financial provider for his family," proposing compliance with any relevant terms and conditions, including house arrest and electronic monitoring.
They claimed to possess "extensive exculpatory evidence that was not presented to the jury" and asserted Masterson's lack of dangerousness and flight risk.
During the sentencing last year, Judge Olmedo addressed Masterson directly, stating: "Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here. 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."
Following Masterson's imprisonment, his wife, Bijou Phillips, who had stood by him throughout court proceedings, filed for divorce. The actor subsequently agreed to grant the 43-year-old singer-and-actress legal and physical custody of their nine-year-old daughter, Fianna.
