Danny Masterson has filed a petition to overturn his two rape convictions and long prison sentence.
filed a petition Monday for his two rape convictions and long prison sentence to be thrown out, saying that his trial lawyer failed to call key witnesses and introduce essential evidence that might have exonerated him.
The petition for habeas corpus filed with California's 2nd District Court of Appeal argues that lawyer Philip Cohen did not represent Masterson properly at the 2023 retrial that ended with the actorRecommended Videos The petition also argues that the trial judge demonstrated a bias against the Church of Scientology, allowing an “unconstitutional intrusion” into the church's doctrine and a misinterpretation of its scripture. Masterson is a member of the church, whose practices were a major issue at his trial, and the women are former members. The petition says that Cohen spoke to only two of the 20 potential witnesses brought to his attention by his co-counsel and an investigator. It says the witnesses included some who would have testified that the women spoke favorably of the sexual relationships they had with Masterson. And they included psychological and pharmacological experts who would have testified about the effects of alcohol and drugs on memory. The court filing says there was “unexpected and unreasonable failure of trial counsel to present any of the mountain of exculpatory evidence” that had been amassed by Masterson's pretrial attorney Shawn Holley, and the result was a violation of his constitutional rights. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo declined to delay Masterson’s first trial to accommodate Holley’s representation of former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcheragainst his own allegations of sexual misconduct. Cohen then took over as lead attorney. Masterson's first trial ended in a mistrial with a jury unable to reach consensus on any of three rape counts against him. He was promptly retried, and a jury found him guilty of two counts while failing to reach a verdict on the third. Cohen did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the petition, nor did an attorney for the women. “The unfairness of the second Masterson trial was the result of prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias, and the failure of defense counsel to present exculpatory evidence,” Eric Multhaup, the attorney who filed the petition for Masterson, said in a statement. “The jury heard only half the story – the prosecution’s side. Danny deserves a new trial where the jury can hear his side as well.” The petition says Olmedo erred in allowing the prosecution to negatively cast the Church of Scientology as a force of intimidation. It alleges that Cohen also did not present available evidence that would countered the portrayal. Masterson’s new motion is separate from his main appeal to the same court, a process that is pending. Masterson, 49, is serving his sentence at the California Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo. He will not be eligible for parole for more than 20 years. Masterson starred with Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Topher Grace in “That ’70s Show” from 1998 until 2006. He had reunited with Kutcher on the 2016 Netflix comedy “The Ranch,” but was written off the show when the Los Angeles Police Department investigation was revealed the following year. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.1:04Tejano star Bobby Pulido’s congressional run emphasizes bipartisanship, rural concernsAmazon Prime Air drone delivery now live in San AntonioFBI, Homeland Security among agencies in Sunday’s ‘court-authorized activity,’ officials sayUS Border Czar: 650K deportations under Operation Lone StarRepublican governors visit soldiers at military base in Eagle PassAirman sues City of San Antonio after being held at gunpoint during traffic stopFormer SA Mayor Ron Nirenberg announces bid for Bexar County JudgeMuggy & warm, and all eyes on next week’s storm chancePolice union leader wants SAPD Chief McManus out over ‘knee-jerk’ reactionsKSAT helps woman facing code violation over illegally dumped tiresAre feral pigs coming to a neighborhood near you? Texas A&M expert weighs potential causesJudge ordered newborn removed from parents before CPS was notified, prompting backlashNeighborhood fights for speed bumps after 70-year-old woman hit, killed on her front porchKnowing the symptoms and when to see a doctor can help in the fight against ovarian cancerBlue Origin launches landmark Mars missionExperience San Antonio’s newest drive-thru Christmas light display “The Light Park” at Wolff StadiumExperience San Antonio’s newest drive-thru Christmas light display “The Light Park” at Wolff StadiumWhooping cough cases on the rise across Texas, including in San AntonioKSAT’s Japhanie Gray takes on VIA’s celebrity bus operator competition during annual ‘roadeo’Mapping the dozens of data centers in San AntonioSan Antonio man searching for hero couple who helped save his life during heart attackWATCH- Rep. Tony Gonzales refuses to answer questions about his alleged relationship with staffer9 families sue Camp Mystic after deadly July 4 floodsHave you seen him? Police seek man seen strangling kitten on surveillance video
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Actor Danny Masterson asks for rape convictions to be tossed over lawyer errorsDanny Masterson has filed a petition to overturn his two rape convictions and long prison sentence.
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