Actor Danny Masterson Sentenced to 30 Years to Life for Rape
The 'That '70s Show' star convicted of two counts of forcible rape; now challenging conviction via habeas petition
Published June 6, 2025
Case Details
Quick Facts
Classification:
Quick facts
Danny Masterson, the 47-year-old actor who played Steven Hyde on the popular 1990s sitcom "That '70s Show," was found guilty of two counts of forcible rape on May 31, 2023, in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down a sentence of 30 years to life—two consecutive 15-year sentences—on September 7, 2023.
Masterson was charged with three counts of rape by force or fear involving three women, all of whom were Scientologists at the time of the alleged assaults. The incidents allegedly occurred between 2001 and 2003. Two of the victims were former girlfriends of the defendant.
The conviction followed a retrial that spanned April through May 2023. An initial trial in 2022 had ended in a mistrial when jurors deadlocked 8–4 on the charges. One of the three counts resulted in an acquittal; the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on that charge, and it was subsequently dismissed.
Timeline
First alleged assault
The alleged rapes took place between 2001 and 2003 at Masterson's address in Hollywood Hills. All three victims met Masterson through Scientology.
First trial ends in mistrial
Masterson's first trial ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach agreement on any of the three rape charges.
Verdict reached in second trial
A jury in Los Angeles found Masterson guilty on two counts of forcible rape. The third charge ended in a mistrial with a jury split 8-4 and was later dismissed.
Sentencing
Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison by the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The sentence consists of two 15-year terms to be served consecutively. He is eligible for parole after 25.5 years.
Admission to state prison
Masterson was received at North Kern State Prison and later transferred to California Men's Colony.
Masterson maintained his not guilty plea throughout both trials. He posted $3.3 million bail in June 2021 and remained in administrative segregation at Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles pending sentencing and appeals.
As part of his conviction, Masterson is required to register as a sex offender.
In a significant development, Masterson filed a habeas petition in November 2025 challenging his conviction. The petition claims he received inadequate legal defense and alleges bias against his Scientology faith during the trial proceedings. Habeas petitions are legal challenges that argue a conviction or imprisonment violates constitutional rights.
Masterson's acting career, which centered on his eight-year run on "That '70s Show" (1998–2006), effectively ended following his arrest in 2020. The case garnered international attention both because of his television prominence and the broader cultural conversation surrounding allegations of sexual assault against entertainment industry figures.
Sources: https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/live-updates/danny-masterson-sentencing/?id=102933801 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85WRGT3vIiI https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Masterson https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-11-17/danny-masterson-rape-conviction-habeas-petition https://www.taylorring.com/blog/the-case-against-danny-masterson/
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