Actor Danny Masterson sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for rape

www.cbc.ca ^ | Sep 07, 2023 | The Associated Press

[Jonty30]

A judge sentenced That '70s Show star Danny Masterson to 30 years to life in prison Thursday for the rapes of two women two decades ago.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to Masterson, 47, after hearing statements from the women about the trauma they experienced and the suffering caused by the disturbing memories in the years since.

The actor, who has been in custody since May, sat in court wearing a suit. He watched the women without visible reaction as they spoke.

"When you raped me, you stole from me," said one woman who Masterson was convicted of raping in 2003. "That's what rape is, a theft of the spirit.

"You are pathetic, disturbed and completely violent," she said. "The world is better off with you in prison."

The other woman Masterson was found guilty of raping said he "has not shown an ounce of remorse for the pain he caused." She told the judge, "I knew he belonged behind bars for the safety of all the women he came into contact with. I am so sorry, and I'm so upset. I wish I'd reported him sooner to the police."

[eyeamok]

But the allegations were from 20 years ago, why ?

[JBW1949]

His picture looks like he’s Black anyway....

[MarMema]

Same.

Super suspicious. And I am a woman.

[DiogenesLamp]

Found this:

The case went to trial last year with Masterson facing three counts of rape, but an initial jury failed to reach a verdict and the judge declared a mistrial. Prosecutors retried Masterson on all three counts earlier this year.

Couldn't reach a verdict? Doesn't sound like very good evidence.

[hardspunned]

I was wondering the same thing.

[DiogenesLamp]

I don’t like any of these cases that were never reported when they happened and are only now coming to light 20 years later.

During the "Me Too" mass hysteria. That's why I tended to doubt his guilt.

[Nextrush]

The statute of limitations who needs that have to get them from Trump on down, have to get them no rules just right...sarc

[Hatteras]

[DiogenesLamp]

just theri word that it really happened

Not good evidence in my opinion.

Too many kooks out there nowadays, especially in Hollywood. And so many years later? What, were they not upset about it at the time?

I think this thing is part of the "me too" hysteria everyone was going through a few years back.

[Blood of Tyrants]

He was protected by the church of scientology for years. I think several of the women have lawsuits against the cult, now.

[eyeamok]

That's why I tended to doubt his guilt.

On a 20 year old allegation of he says she says, without a Signed Confession or a Video of the Act, I would find the Prosecutor Guilty of Conspiracy to Defraud and Deprivation of Rights.

[Dr. Franklin]

From the article which FReepers famously never read before commenting:

"Masterson did not testify, and his lawyers called no witnesses. The defence argued that the acts were consensual, and attempted to discredit the women's stories by highlighting changes and inconsistencies over time, which they said showed signs of coordination between them.
The women whose testimony led to Masterson's conviction said that in 2003, he gave them drinks and that they then became woozy or passed out before he violently raped them.
Olmedo allowed prosecutors and accusers to say directly in the second trial that Masterson drugged the women, while only allowing the women to describe their condition in the first.
Masterson was not charged with any counts of drugging, and there was no toxicology evidence to back up the assertion. The issue could be a factor in a planned appeal from the defence of Masterson's conviction."

[boycott]

I don’t like any of these cases that were never reported when they happened and are only now coming to light 20 years later.

---

Agree. If it really happened, it should be reported within a year or two at the latest. Women should know there is a set date to file any charges. Otherwise, they’re letting the person go.

We’ve learned that we cannot “Believe All Survivors” as liberals claim when targeting conservatives.

[ronniesgal]

i am surprised by this.

[Blood of Tyrants]

There is a podcast by Mike Rowe (of Dirty Jobs) about the women who were bullied and threatened by the church of scientology.

https://mikerowe.com/2022/03/the-crushing-certainty-of-scientology-ep-240/

[PGR88]

To quote Red... “Dumbass”,

Family guy with wife and child, accused of drugging and raping women - not at a bar, on the street, or elsewhere - but who came to his home, which they willingly came to. No physical evidence, no toxicology reports, only claims from the women that they told some church-members at the time. Oh, and this happened 20 years ago.

May you never be subjected to such "justice."

[Blood of Tyrants]

Far, far from it.

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4180803/posts?page=35#35

[Blood of Tyrants]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4180803/posts?page=35#35

[Blood of Tyrants]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4180803/posts?page=35#35

[DiogenesLamp]

On a 20 year old allegation of he says she says, without a Signed Confession or a Video of the Act, I would find the Prosecutor Guilty of Conspiracy to Defraud and Deprivation of Rights.

We certainly need a lot more prosecutors going to prison for abusing their authority.