Danny Masterson's defense team filed an appeal Wednesday against the disgraced actor's 2023 rape conviction, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
The defense asked for the conviction to be overturned, citing numerous procedural and substantive errors that undermined the fairness and credibility of the trial, according to documents.
The “That 70's Show” actor was sentenced last year to a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in prison, the maximum allowed by law, and will be eligible for parole if he serves at least 25 years.
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Danny Masterson was sentenced in September 2023 to 30 years to life in prison for two counts of forcible rape. (Wade Payne)
“Appellant's opening brief, filed on December 18, 2024, shows that there are two fundamental flaws in Danny Masterson's conviction: (1) the trial was stacked against him; “There was widespread misjudgment that distorted the jury's view of the evidence, and (2) the amount of exculpatory evidence that was never presented to the jury,'' Masterson's attorney Cliff said. Ta. Gardner said in a statement.
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“However, this appeal is only part of the challenge to Danny's conviction. Following the opening brief, Danny's habeas corpus petition filed a petition for habeas corpus documenting further flaws in the trial process. Stay tuned as we work toward a complete verdict on Danny.'' ”
Masterson is being held at a medium-security prison in San Luis Obispo, California. Masterson was transferred to the California Men's Colony (CMC) on February 16 after serving his sentence at California State Penitentiary Corcoran, a maximum-security prison where he was previously held. 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 was sentenced to 30 years in prison for two counts of forcible rape and only served a few weeks in Corcoran Prison. 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 2023after eight days of deliberation by seven men and five women, the jury hung on the third charge during the trial.
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Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo sentenced Masterson to 15 years to life in prison on each count and ordered the sentences to run consecutively.
Mr. Masterson originally faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted of three counts of rape by force and rape by fear for the alleged sexual assaults that occurred at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003. could have been punished.
He was arrested in June 2020 and released on $3.3 million bail. The suspect maintains his innocence and maintains his innocence.
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