Danny Masterson's legal team on Wednesday filed an appeal of the disgraced actor's 2023 rape conviction, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
The defense asked to overturn the convictions because of numerous procedural and substantive errors that compromised the fairness and reliability of the trial, according to the documents.
the “That '70s Show” Actor. He was sentenced last year to 30 years to life in prison, the maximum allowed by law, and will be eligible for parole after serving more than 25 years.
Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison in September 2023 on two counts of forcible rape. (Wade Payne)
“Appellant's opening brief filed on December 18, 2024, demonstrates two fundamental flaws in Danny Masterson's convictions: (1) the trial was riddled with erroneous adjudications that distorted the jury's view of the evidence against him and (2) there was startling surprise.” “A quantity of exculpatory evidence that was never presented to a jury,” Masterson's attorney, Cliff Gardner, said in a statement.
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“But the appeal is only one part of Danny's challenge to his convictions. Danny's habeas corpus attorney will follow up the opening brief with a petition for a habeas corpus to document additional flaws in the trial process. Follow us as we work toward Danny's full exoneration.”
Masterson was incarcerated in a medium security prison in San Luis Obispo, California. He was transferred to prison. California Men's Colony (CMC) on February 16 after serving time at California State Prison, Corcoran – the maximum security prison that once housed cult leader Charles Manson.
Danny Masterson was transferred to a medium security facility in February. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation/Getty Images)
“The Ranch” star spent just a few weeks at Corcoran after being sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on two counts of forcible rape. He was initially transferred from Men's Central Prison in Los Angeles to North Kern State Prison.
Masterson was found guilty on two charges Forced rape in May 2023The jury was hung on a third charge during the trial after the seven men and five women deliberated for eight days.
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Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlene Olmedo sentenced Masterson to 15 years to life in prison on each count, and ordered the sentences to run consecutively.
Masterson initially faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted of three counts of rape by force or fear for alleged sexual assaults that occurred between 2001 and 2003 at his Hollywood Hills home.
He was arrested in June 2020 and released on $3.3 million bail. He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and maintained his innocence.
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