A California judge has denied bail pending appeal for “That 70s Show” actor Danny Masterson, who was sentenced to 30 years to life after his conviction on rape charges last year.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo said Wednesday that Masterson “now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his lengthy sentence should his appeal be unsuccessful,” Deadline reported.
Olmedo noted that Masters “has no wife to go home to,” referencing ongoing divorce proceedings between Masterson and Bijou Phillips.
Phillips filed for divorce in September, less than two weeks after Masterson was sentenced following his earlier conviction on two counts of rape, as CrimeOnline reported. The same jury did not convict on a third count of rape.
Olmedo made the ruling after a hearing Wednesday morning in which Masterson’s attorneys asked for bail and pledged that their client would “comply with any relevant terms and conditions imposed by the Court.”
In their motion for bail, Clifford Gardner and Eric Multhaup said they have “extensive exculpatory evidence that was not presented to the jury.”
Whatever that evidence is is unknown, as it’s under seal.
Masterson, 46, faces more rape charges, with the next set to go to trial in September 2025.
Masterson is a member of the Church of Scientology, which was not party to the criminal proceedings against him, although it is named as a co-defendant in a civil harassment case filed by Jane Does and their families from the criminal cases.
The actor was transferred to North Kern State Prison in December to serve his sentence.
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[Featured image: Danny Masterson/California Department of Corrections via AP]
