Danny Masterson, the former That ’70s Show actor who was sentenced to 30 years to life for raping two women, was transferred to a high-security prison in California, where he will likely serve most of his sentence.
The Corcoran State Prison that he has been moved to is known for holding some of the most dangerous and high-profile inmates in the state, such as cult leader Charles Manson, assassin Sirhan Sirhan, and serial killer Rodney Alcala.
Masterson, 47, was moved from North Kern State Prison to Corcoran State Prison on Monday, according to state records from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The move came after a judge denied his request for bail pending an appeal of his rape convictions and 30-year prison sentence, saying that he had “every incentive to flee” and that he had “no wife to go home to”.
His estranged wife, actress Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce in September 2023, shortly after his sentencing. They have a 9-year-old daughter, Fianna, who will be allowed to visit him in prison.
Danny Masterson was convicted of raping two women in a retrial in May 2023, after the first trial ended in a mistrial in September 2022. He was also accused of raping a third woman, but the jury could not reach a verdict on that count.
All three women were former members of the Church of Scientology, to which Masterson still belongs. They alleged that he raped them at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003, after drugging them or rendering them unconscious.
Masterson pleaded not guilty to the charges and maintained his innocence throughout the trial. His defense attorney, Shawn Holley, argued that the women’s allegations were motivated by revenge, jealousy, and a desire to ruin his career. She also claimed that the women were influenced by the anti-Scientology and #MeToo movement, and that they had consensual sex with her client.
The prosecution, led by Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller, presented evidence that Masterson had a pattern of predatory behavior and that he used his status and power to manipulate and silence his victims. Mueller also showed that the Church of Scientology had discouraged the women from reporting the rapes to the authorities and had tried to cover up the crimes.
Danny Masterson will be housed in Corcoran’s Level 4 housing unit, the highest tier of security available at the prison. Inmates are usually placed at this level when they need extra protection or 24/7 supervision.
