‘Rife With Erroneous Judicial Rulings.’ That ’70s Show Vet Danny Masterson’s Lawyers Filed Appeal For Actor’s Rape Convictions

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As a seasoned movie buff and follower of Hollywood’s highs and lows, I find myself deeply saddened by the ongoing ordeal of Danny Masterson. Having spent countless hours watching his charismatic performances on shows like “That ’70s Show” and “Men at Work,” it is disheartening to see such a talented individual entangled in such a tragic situation.

Since December 2023, Danny Masterson has been incarcerated, beginning a 30-year sentence following two rape conviction counts. Yet, his legal battle persists as his lawyers work tirelessly to exonerate him amid multiple sexual assault allegations. They claim that the trial in 2023 was fraught with incorrect judicial decisions, and have since filed an appeal to overturn his convictions linked to his role on “That ‘70s Show.

On December 18th, as reported by US Weekly, Danny Masterson’s legal representative, Cliff Gardner, disclosed a 246-page opening argument. This document alleges multiple potential errors that could have infringed upon Masterson’s rights to cross-examination and a fair trial. The appeal is said to rest on two significant issues in the actor’s verdict. According to the submitted papers:

During the court proceedings, numerous biased judicial decisions tainted the jury’s perception of the evidence against him. Additionally, an overwhelming quantity of evidence clearing him was withheld from the jury.

Immediately following Danny Masterson’s conviction in September 2023, complaints from his defense team emerged. At that moment, his lawyer stated that several renowned appellate lawyers across the nation had already noted numerous substantial issues related to evidence and constitutional rights.

Cliff Gardner echoed those sentiments and continued to show confidence in getting the convictions overturned. The lawyer stated:

The appeal is just one aspect of Danny’s struggle against his beliefs. His legal team, working on his habeas case, will submit a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to address further flaws in the trial proceedings. Keep updated as we strive for Danny’s full vindication.

The actor, whose acting career came to an abrupt halt after being dismissed from The Ranch in 2017 due to rape allegations, was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison and will not become eligible for parole until June 2042. This means that the actor, who celebrated his 48th birthday while incarcerated this year, will be 66 years old by the time he is eligible for release.

The sentencing came after a yearslong investigation into allegations from five women that Danny Masterson assaulted them in the early 2000s. The actor has maintained his innocence, and his That ‘70s Show co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have faced backlash for writing character letters in support of Masterson ahead of his sentencing.

In October 2022, an actor from the show “Men at Work” faced his first court hearing. The trial went on for almost a month before the jury started deliberations, but it ended inconclusively in March 2023 due to two jurors testing positive for COVID-19 and the remaining jury members being unable to reach a consensus. A second trial took place in April 2023, during which Danny Masterson’s accusers testified about traumatic experiences.

In January 2024, a judge declined to grant bail for the actor while his lawyers were working on an appeal. She pointed out that since Bijou Phillips had filed for divorce, leaving Danny Masterson with no spouse to return home to, and considering the length of his sentence, he might be tempted to escape and had little motivation to return to prison if his appeal failed. Now that the necessary paperwork has been submitted, we’ll observe whether any changes in the trial results occur due to the defense’s findings.

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2024-12-19 19:37