Danny Masterson is serving a 30-year-to-life prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of raping two women. He’s currently incarcerated at California Men’s Colony, and his legal team filed an appeal in January 2025 seeking to overturn his conviction.
Who Is Danny Masterson?
Danny Masterson built his career as an actor starting in childhood. Born on March 13, 1976, in Nassau County, New York, he became a household name playing Steven Hyde on the hit sitcom “That ’70s Show” from 1998 to 2006. The show ran for eight seasons on Fox and became a cultural touchstone for audiences in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Beyond television, Masterson appeared in films including “Face/Off” (1997) and “Dracula 2000” (2000). He later starred in the Netflix series “The Ranch” alongside Ashton Kutcher, his former “That ’70s Show” co-star, until Netflix fired him in December 2017 following rape allegations.
Masterson has been a lifelong member of the Church of Scientology. This connection became central to his criminal case, as all three women who accused him of rape were practicing Scientologists at the time of the alleged assaults.
The Criminal Case Against Masterson
The Charges and Timeline
Masterson was charged with forcibly raping three women at his Hollywood Hills home in separate incidents in 2003, during the peak of his “That ’70s Show” fame. The Los Angeles County District Attorney filed charges against him in June 2020, nearly two decades after the alleged crimes occurred.
The accusations surfaced publicly in 2017 when multiple women reported the assaults to the Los Angeles Police Department. All three women testified that Masterson drugged them before the attacks. They also stated that Church of Scientology officials discouraged them from reporting the incidents to law enforcement and protected Masterson within the organization.
Two Trials and a Conviction
Masterson faced two criminal trials. The first trial in late 2022 ended with a hung jury, unable to reach a unanimous verdict on any of the three counts. Prosecutors retried the case in early 2023.
In May 2023, a Los Angeles jury found Masterson guilty of two counts of rape by force or fear. The jury deadlocked on the third count. The conviction meant mandatory prison time under California law.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo presided over both trials. She sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison on September 7, 2023. Masterson showed no visible emotion when the sentence was handed down.
Victim Testimony and Evidence
The three women, referred to as Jane Does in court proceedings, provided detailed testimony about their assaults. They described how Masterson gave them drinks that made them feel disoriented and unable to resist. Each woman recounted traumatic experiences of being raped while incapacitated.
One victim testified that she reported her rape to police in 2004, but investigators lost the recording of her initial interview by 2020. This became a point of contention during the trials, as police reports allegedly omitted details the victim said she provided.
The prosecution presented testimony from additional women who alleged Masterson sexually assaulted them, though these incidents weren’t part of the criminal charges. This pattern evidence aimed to establish Masterson’s alleged behavior over time.
Masterson’s Current Prison Status
Location and Security Level
Masterson is currently incarcerated at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. He was initially housed at North Kern State Prison and later Corcoran State Prison, a maximum-security facility that once held Charles Manson. Prison officials transferred Masterson to the medium-to-minimum-security California Men’s Colony in February 2024 due to concerns about his well-being.
The California Men’s Colony sits near Morro Bay on California’s central coast. The facility houses inmates in less restrictive conditions than maximum-security prisons. Masterson remains in custody there while pursuing his appeal.
Parole Eligibility Timeline
Under his current sentence, Masterson is eligible for parole in 2042, approximately 17 years from now. Good behavior could potentially shorten this timeline, but California’s parole system for violent crimes remains strict.
Judge Olmedo denied Masterson’s request for bail pending appeal in January 2024, citing concerns he could flee. The judge noted that if his conviction stands on appeal, he’ll likely spend the rest of his life in prison given his age and sentence length.
The 2025 Appeal: Key Arguments
Appeal Brief Filed in January 2025
Masterson’s appellate attorney, Cliff Gardner, filed an opening brief on January 15, 2025, outlining two fundamental claims: the trial contained erroneous judicial rulings that skewed the jury’s view, and substantial exculpatory evidence was never presented to the jury.
The appeal brief spans 246 pages and contains 59,850 words — more than twice the 25,500-word limit set by the court. Gardner requested permission to exceed the word limit, stating the case’s complexity required extensive argumentation. If the court denies this request, the brief will be shortened.
Gardner’s other high-profile clients include Erik and Lyle Menendez. He stated his team is working toward Masterson’s “complete exoneration.”
Main Appeal Arguments
The appeal challenges several aspects of the trial:
Victim Credibility and Changing Stories
Masterson’s legal team argues the two women had “evolving” stories that “changed dramatically over the years”. They point to one victim who reported her rape in 2004, but allegedly didn’t mention that Masterson displayed a gun during the attack until 13 years later. The victim countered that police omitted many details from their initial reports.
Excluded Financial Motive Evidence
The appeal claims the trial court wrongly excluded evidence showing the Jane Does had a “strong financial incentive” in securing criminal convictions. According to the brief, California law provided a one-year window after criminal rape convictions for victims to file civil lawsuits with potentially larger damage awards.
Within a year of Masterson’s conviction, both women moved to amend their pending civil lawsuit against Masterson and the Church of Scientology to include rape-based claims. The defense wanted jurors to know about this potential financial benefit, but the judge excluded the evidence.
Trial Court Errors
Gardner argues the conviction “requires” reversal due to trial court errors that prevented Masterson from receiving a fair trial. The brief contends that while defendants aren’t entitled to perfect trials, they must receive fair ones under constitutional standards.
Additional Legal Challenges Ahead
A separate petition for writ of habeas corpus will be filed by another appellate lawyer, documenting additional trial process defects and requesting Masterson’s release. Habeas corpus petitions challenge the lawfulness of imprisonment and can raise issues beyond standard appeals.
The prosecution will file a response brief countering Masterson’s arguments. The California Court of Appeals will then decide whether to grant oral arguments or rule based on the written briefs.
Prosecutor’s Counter-Arguments
During both trials, prosecutors addressed the defense’s claims about inconsistent victim statements. They told jurors it’s unrealistic to expect sexual assault survivors to remember and articulate every detail in their first police interview. When someone asks a question years later that elicits new information, that doesn’t make the victim a liar.
The prosecution emphasized that trauma affects memory formation and recall. Victims often remember additional details over time, especially when asked specific questions they weren’t asked before.
Scientology’s Role in the Case
The Church of Scientology loomed large throughout Masterson’s criminal proceedings. All three women who accused him were Scientologists when the alleged rapes occurred. They testified that church officials discouraged them from reporting the incidents to police and threatened them with “suppressive person” status — effectively excommunication from family and friends still in the church.
One victim testified that she consulted with church ethics officers after her assault. They allegedly told her she couldn’t have been raped because she was in a relationship with Masterson at the time. She said church officials made her feel responsible for what happened.
The women later left Scientology and filed a civil lawsuit against both Masterson and the church in 2019, alleging stalking and harassment after they reported their allegations to police. That civil case is scheduled to go to trial on September 22, 2025.
The Church of Scientology issued statements denying any policy against reporting crimes to law enforcement. Church representatives claimed the criminal trial improperly made Scientology a focus when it should have centered on the evidence against Masterson.
Controversy Over Juror Contact
In November 2024, jurors from Masterson’s second trial reported they were contacted at their homes or workplaces and felt “pressured” to speak with Masterson’s representatives. This prompted Judge Olmedo to issue a scolding to Masterson’s appeals team.
Juror contact after a verdict can constitute jury tampering or obstruction of justice. California law protects jurors from harassment and unwanted contact following their service. The incident raised questions about the appropriateness of the defense team’s investigative tactics.
The defense claimed they were conducting a legitimate post-trial investigation, which attorneys are allowed to do. However, the manner in which jurors were approached apparently crossed ethical lines in the judge’s view.
Public Reaction and Celebrity Support
Masterson’s conviction divided his former colleagues in Hollywood. Some “That ’70s Show” co-stars wrote letters supporting him before sentencing.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher wrote character reference letters describing Masterson as a good person and role model. When these letters became public, Kutcher and Kunis faced significant backlash. They posted an apology video saying they didn’t intend to undermine the victims or the justice system.
Other cast members, including Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama, remained silent publicly about the conviction. Several actors who worked with Masterson expressed support for the victims and emphasized the importance of believing survivors.
Netflix swiftly removed Masterson from “The Ranch” in 2017 when the allegations first surfaced, before any criminal charges were filed. The streaming service received praise for taking allegations seriously, though critics argued Hollywood should have acted sooner, given rumors about Masterson’s behavior.
The Broader #MeToo Context
Masterson’s case became one of several high-profile prosecutions in the #MeToo era. His conviction arrived after Bill Cosby’s conviction was overturned on procedural grounds and Harvey Weinstein faced trials in multiple states.
The case highlighted challenges victims face when reporting sexual assault years after incidents occur. Statutes of limitations, faded memories, and lost evidence all complicate prosecutions. California has since extended or eliminated statutes of limitations for certain sex crimes, partly in response to cases like Masterson’s.
The involvement of a powerful organization like Scientology added another layer to discussions about institutional protection of alleged abusers. Advocates pointed to the case as an example of how organizations can discourage reporting and protect members accused of serious crimes.
What Happens Next?
The appeals process will likely take one to two years. The California Court of Appeals will review the trial record, Masterson’s opening brief, the prosecution’s response brief, and any reply brief from the defense.
Three possible outcomes exist:
- Conviction Affirmed: The appeals court finds no reversible error and upholds the conviction. Masterson would remain in prison and could potentially appeal to the California Supreme Court.
- Conviction Reversed, Retrial Ordered: The court finds significant trial errors and orders a new trial. Prosecutors would decide whether to retry Masterson.
- Conviction Reversed, Case Dismissed: The court finds constitutional violations or insufficient evidence and dismisses the case entirely. This outcome is rare in cases with jury convictions.
Legal experts consider a full reversal unlikely, given that two separate juries heard similar evidence and one convicted on two counts. However, appellate courts do occasionally find trial errors serious enough to warrant new trials.
The civil lawsuit against Masterson and Scientology proceeds on a separate track. That trial could provide additional public testimony about the alleged rapes and church involvement. Civil cases require a lower burden of proof than criminal cases, making conviction in civil court easier even if the criminal conviction were overturned.
Lessons From the Masterson Case
The Masterson prosecution offers several takeaways for understanding sexual assault cases and the criminal justice system:
- Delayed Reporting Doesn’t Mean False Reporting: Victims have legitimate reasons for not immediately reporting assaults, including fear, shame, and institutional pressure. Prosecutors successfully argued this point to jurors.
- Organizational Influence Matters: The church’s alleged role in discouraging reports became central to explaining why the women didn’t come forward sooner. This context helped jurors understand the timeline.
- Pattern Evidence Can Be Persuasive: Testimony from additional women about similar incidents, even if uncharged, helped establish Masterson’s alleged behavior pattern.
- Appeals Take Time: Even with serious charges and lengthy sentences, defendants have extensive appeal rights. The process can take years to fully resolve.
- Public Opinion Differs From Legal Standards: Many people formed strong opinions based on media coverage, but appeals courts review only specific legal errors, not whether they agree with the jury’s verdict.
FAQs
Where is Danny Masterson now in 2025?
Danny Masterson is currently incarcerated at California Men’s Colony, a medium-to-minimum-security prison in San Luis Obispo, California. He’s serving his 30-year-to-life sentence while his appeal is pending.
Can Danny Masterson’s conviction be overturned?
Masterson’s legal team filed an appeal in January 2025, arguing the trial contained errors and excluded exculpatory evidence. While appeals can result in overturned convictions, courts rarely reverse when juries hear evidence and render guilty verdicts.
When is Danny Masterson eligible for parole?
Masterson is eligible for parole in 2042, approximately 17 years from his 2023 sentencing. California’s parole board would need to determine he no longer poses a public safety risk before releasing him.
What role did Scientology play in the Masterson case?
The three women who accused Masterson testified that Church of Scientology officials discouraged them from reporting the rapes to police and protected Masterson. All three were Scientologists at the time of the alleged assaults but have since left the church. The church denies having any policy against reporting crimes to law enforcement.
Did any of Masterson’s co-stars support him?
Yes, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis wrote character reference letters before Masterson’s sentencing. When the letters became public, both actors faced criticism and issued apology videos. Other co-stars from “That ’70s Show” largely remained silent publicly about the case.
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