Danny Masterson was seen blowing a kiss across the courtroom to his wife as he was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on rape charges.
As previously reported, Masterson, widely recognized for his role as Steven Hyde on the popular US sitcom That '70s Show, has been handed a prison sentence of 30 years to life after being found guilty of two counts of rape.
The verdict comes after a lengthy legal battle spanning multiple years.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo presided over the sentencing hearing, allowing the three Jane Does involved in the case to deliver victim impact statements. These three individuals include the two women Masterson was convicted of raping, as well as the third whose count was dismissed.
"When you raped me, you stole from me," expressed one of Masterson's victims during her victim statement. "That’s what rape is, a theft of the spirit."
Following the verdict, Masterson's wife, 43-year-old Bijou Phillips, was reported to look "shattered" and "emotional" as she donned large dark sunglasses, per the New York Post.
According to the outlet, the only time that the disgraced former actor showed emotion during his trial was when he blew a kiss to his wife as he was sentenced.
Masterson's legal troubles began in 2020 when he was arrested and subsequently pleaded not guilty to three counts of felony rape. These accusations stemmed from three different women, including a former girlfriend, with the alleged incidents occurring between 2001 and 2003, as reported by AP.
The initial trial in November 2022 ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury. Notably, all three alleged victims were affiliated with the Church of Scientology, as is Masterson. They cited church teachings that discouraged reporting to law enforcement as a reason for their initial hesitance to come forward.
One of the accusers detailed an alleged incident where Masterson shoved a pillow into her face during the rape in 2003, while another, known as Jane Doe No. 3, claimed that he raped her while she was asleep in 2001. Both Jane Doe No. 2 and Jane Doe No. 3 are also parties involved in a related civil case against Masterson and the Church of Scientology.
Following the mistrial, the LA County District Attorney’s Office pursued a retrial with a new set of jurors, and all three accusers agreed to testify once more.
During the retrial earlier this year, defense attorney Philip Cohen questioned the credibility of the accusers, suggesting that they might have altered their stories, potentially motivated by "hatred, revenge, or money."
However, Judge Olmedo rejected the defense's mistrial request, which was rooted in the argument that prosecutors had focused excessively on the alleged drugging of the victims. Olmedo argued that this aspect was "directly relevant to their ability to perceive the events of the charged incidents."
Deputy District Attorney Ariel Anson was allowed to assert during the retrial that Masterson had drugged all three women before the alleged rapes, a detail that was not as emphasized in the first trial. Despite defense attorney Philip Cohen's assertion that there were no drugging charges and insufficient evidence beyond the accusers' testimonies, the Los Angeles jury ultimately found Masterson guilty of two counts of forcible rape.
Following his conviction, Masterson was informed that he would remain in custody while awaiting his sentencing.
Throughout the trial, Phillips was notably emotional as the case against her husband was built.
