\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Danny Masterson’s Chances of Winning Appeal Are Slim, Lawyer Says<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tDanny Masterson has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after he was convicted on two counts of forcible rape during his sexual assault trial \u2014 and winning an appeal could be a long shot. \u201cIt is very hard to win on appeal and I don\u2019t expect Danny Masterson to win,\u201d attorney Neama [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Four women claimed in March 2017 that Masterson, 49, sexually assaulted them<\/span><\/a> in the early 2000s. A fifth woman came forward in December 2017, claiming that while she was dating the actor, he \u201crepeatedly raped\u201d her.<\/p>\nMasterson denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty in January 2021 to three counts of rape.<\/p>\n
His first trial began in the fall of 2022, which ended in a mistrial. When Masterson went back on trial in spring 2023, he was convicted of two counts of rape. In September 2023, he was handed a 30-year prison sentence<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\nMasterson met both of the victims through the Church of Scientology. During the second trial, church doctrine was discussed, with the victims alleging they were discouraged from reporting the actor to police for years.<\/p>\n
According to new court docs, the two convictions are attributable to \u201cthe prosecution\u2019s more aggressive evidentiary presentation that focused on Scientology.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n![\"Ashton](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Ashton-Kutcher-s-Inner-Circle-Diddy-Danny-Masterson-and-More-feature.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1758px%2C992px&resize=400%2C225&quality=55&strip=all\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Ashton Kutcher\u2019s Inner Circle: Diddy, Danny Masterson and More<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tSome of Ashton Kutcher\u2019s friendships have caused controversy. Kutcher and Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs have been friends since the early 2000s after meeting on the set of Punk\u2019d. \u201cIt started over Punk\u2019d cause he\u2019s like, \u2018You can\u2019t punk me.\u2019 I was like, \u2018I don\u2019t know what to tell you, everybody\u2019s on the table.\u2019 So, that started [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThe jury saw only the tip of the iceberg of available defense evidence in the form of the complaining witnesses\u2019 inconsistent statements while the wealth of directly exculpatory evidence went unused for no viable tactical reason,\u201d Masterson\u2019s attorneys claimed in documents.<\/p>\n
Masterson\u2019s lawyers filed a separate appeal in December 2024<\/span><\/a>, in which they challenged many of the judge\u2019s rulings. The new habeas petition allows the actor\u2019s attorneys to address evidence that was not introduced at trial.<\/p>\n\u201cThe unfairness of the second Masterson trial was the result of prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias and the failure of defense counsel to present exculpatory evidence,\u201d attorney Eric Multhaup<\/strong> said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times<\/i><\/span><\/a> on Monday. \u201cThe habeas corpus petition is accompanied by 65 exhibits that document the evidence of innocence that could have been presented, but was not. The jury heard only half the story \u2014 the prosecution\u2019s side. Danny deserves a new trial where the jury can hear his side as well.\u201d<\/p>\nUs<\/i> has reached out to Multhaup for comment.<\/p>\n
Masterson\u2019s ex-wife, Bijou Phillips<\/b>, filed for divorce<\/span><\/a> in September 2023 after 12 years of marriage. The following month, Us<\/i> confirmed that Masterson agreed to give Phillips, 45, full legal and physical custody of their daughter.<\/p>\n
Masterson denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty in January 2021 to three counts of rape.<\/p>\n
His first trial began in the fall of 2022, which ended in a mistrial. When Masterson went back on trial in spring 2023, he was convicted of two counts of rape. In September 2023, he was handed a 30-year prison sentence<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Masterson met both of the victims through the Church of Scientology. During the second trial, church doctrine was discussed, with the victims alleging they were discouraged from reporting the actor to police for years.<\/p>\n According to new court docs, the two convictions are attributable to \u201cthe prosecution\u2019s more aggressive evidentiary presentation that focused on Scientology.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tSome of Ashton Kutcher\u2019s friendships have caused controversy. Kutcher and Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs have been friends since the early 2000s after meeting on the set of Punk\u2019d. \u201cIt started over Punk\u2019d cause he\u2019s like, \u2018You can\u2019t punk me.\u2019 I was like, \u2018I don\u2019t know what to tell you, everybody\u2019s on the table.\u2019 So, that started [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe jury saw only the tip of the iceberg of available defense evidence in the form of the complaining witnesses\u2019 inconsistent statements while the wealth of directly exculpatory evidence went unused for no viable tactical reason,\u201d Masterson\u2019s attorneys claimed in documents.<\/p>\n Masterson\u2019s lawyers filed a separate appeal in December 2024<\/span><\/a>, in which they challenged many of the judge\u2019s rulings. The new habeas petition allows the actor\u2019s attorneys to address evidence that was not introduced at trial.<\/p>\n \u201cThe unfairness of the second Masterson trial was the result of prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias and the failure of defense counsel to present exculpatory evidence,\u201d attorney Eric Multhaup<\/strong> said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times<\/i><\/span><\/a> on Monday. \u201cThe habeas corpus petition is accompanied by 65 exhibits that document the evidence of innocence that could have been presented, but was not. The jury heard only half the story \u2014 the prosecution\u2019s side. Danny deserves a new trial where the jury can hear his side as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Us<\/i> has reached out to Multhaup for comment.<\/p>\n Masterson\u2019s ex-wife, Bijou Phillips<\/b>, filed for divorce<\/span><\/a> in September 2023 after 12 years of marriage. The following month, Us<\/i> confirmed that Masterson agreed to give Phillips, 45, full legal and physical custody of their daughter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Ashton Kutcher\u2019s Inner Circle: Diddy, Danny Masterson and More<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"Danny](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Danny-Masterson-and-Bijou-Phillips-Relationship-Timeline-Promo.jpg?crop=0px%2C33px%2C1450px%2C819px&resize=400%2C225&quality=53&strip=all\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n