Danny Masterson (That ’70s Show, The Ranch) has lost his appeal to overturn his two rape convictions and 30-year prison sentence. According to Deadline, California appeals court upheld the verdict Tuesday, rejecting arguments that evidence involving the Church of Scientology unfairly influenced his trials.
Three judges from California’s Second Appellate District reviewed Masterson’s claims about how his 2022 and 2023 trials were handled. The panel ultimately rejected his arguments, stating, “The judgment is affirmed.”
Masterson’s appeal focused partly on Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo’s decision to allow testimony and evidence concerning Scientology. His attorneys argued that the material unfairly influenced the jury and violated constitutional protections surrounding religious beliefs.
However, the appeals court disagreed, ruling that the evidence was relevant and properly admitted. “Admission of Scientology evidence did not violate the First Amendment and was not an abuse of the trial court’s discretion,” the judges concluded.
Deadline notes case involved two women, identified during the trial as J.B. and N.T., who were Scientology members when the assaults occurred between 2001 and 2003. Both testified that Scientology officials discouraged them from reporting the incidents to police and warned they could face expulsion from the organization.
Masterson was arrested in 2020 and convicted in May 2023 following his second trial, after the first was a declared mistrial. He received his 30-year prison sentence that September and remains ineligible for parole until 2042.
The appeals court also rejected additional complaints involving police procedures, admitted evidence, and the fairness of the proceedings. Judges determined that the alleged errors did not individually or collectively violate Masterson’s right to a fair trial.
Despite the ruling, Masterson’s attorneys, Cliff Gardner and Eric Multhaup, intend to pursue further legal action. They told Deadline they plan to seek review from the California Supreme Court and pursue habeas corpus relief based on evidence they claim was not presented to the jury.
Masterson is currently serving his sentence at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo after being transferred from Corcoran State Prison in 2024. For now, the appeals court’s decision leaves his convictions and sentence unchanged.