California appeals judges unanimously upheld Danny Masterson’s two rape convictions and 30-years-to-life sentence after a full review of his nearly dozen claims.
Story Snapshot
- Appeals court affirmed two rape convictions and consecutive 15-to-life terms after review.
- Judges said Scientology evidence explained delayed reporting and victim behavior, not church beliefs.
- Court found no hostility toward Scientology by the trial judge and kept the verdict intact.
- Defense lost both the direct appeal and a related habeas claim of ineffective counsel, for now.
What The Court Actually Decided
California’s Second District Court of Appeal issued an 89-page opinion on October 27, 2026, and kept Danny Masterson’s two rape convictions in place. The court said the trial judge did not commit reversible error and that the sentence of two consecutive 15-years-to-life terms stands. The ruling addressed many defense objections and rejected them. Reports also note the convictions involve two women and events at Masterson’s Hollywood Hills home in 2003, not a single allegation.
The judges also rejected claims that the trial court was biased against the Church of Scientology. The panel said the record showed no hostility or loss of neutrality. The court allowed evidence about Scientology because it helped explain why the women first reported inside the church, delayed reporting to police, and later reactions. The opinion said the jury was not asked to judge any religious doctrine as true or false, only to weigh facts about conduct and context.
Why The Scientology Evidence Mattered
Prosecutors argued the church context helped jurors understand the timeline and the women’s choices. The appeals court agreed that this background evidence tied to the women’s actions had probative value. Defense lawyers said the government leaned on Scientology talk to cover gaps and risked putting the religion on trial. The court disagreed. It said the evidence served a narrow purpose: to show why reporting was delayed and how the women responded, which jurors could use to judge credibility.
Defense filings also accused the trial judge of slanting rulings against Scientology and shaping the jury’s view. The appellate panel reviewed the judge’s statements and rulings and found no animus. That finding cuts against a larger worry shared by many Americans: judges picking sides in high-profile cases. Here, the panel’s message was clear. The trial court stayed within the rules, and any church-related evidence was limited and tied to concrete issues the jury had to decide.
Appeal Limits, Next Steps, And What We Still Do Not Know
Appeals courts check for legal errors; they do not retry facts or rehear witnesses. This panel said the trial record supported the verdict and that no reversible errors occurred. Defense lawyers also filed a habeas petition claiming ineffective counsel, including missed witnesses and unused evidence, and lost that round. Reports say they plan to seek review by the California Supreme Court, which can accept or deny the case at its discretion.
🚨 BREAKING: DANNY MASTERSON’S RAPE CONVICTIONS UPHELD — SCIENTOLOGY ARGUMENT REJECTED
The former That ’70s Show actor just lost his appeal.
⚖️ In an 89-page ruling issued Tuesday, a California appeals court rejected his arguments for overturning his convictions, including… pic.twitter.com/KVHQwobfAs
— Lindsay 🇺🇸 (@TheLinzerShow) October 27, 2026
Some readers on the left and right worry the system is either too soft on the powerful or too rigid to correct mistakes. This case shows the narrow lane of appeals. The court affirmed the convictions based on law, not on a new weighing of credibility. The public does not see full transcripts here, so many details stay out of view. That gap fuels distrust. Still, the legal bottom line is firm today: two separate rape convictions, a 30-to-life sentence, and a unanimous affirmance.
Sources:
kesq.com, deadline.com, usmagazine.com
