Denied Bail; “Every Incentive To Flee,” Judge Says Of Convicted Rapist & Incarcerated ’70s Show’ Actor

https://deadline.com/2024/01/danny-masterson-denied-bail-1235803990/

“If defendant’s conviction and sentence are upheld on appeal, he will likely remain in custody for decades and perhaps the rest of his life,” wrote Judge Charlaine Olmedo in an order Wednesday. “In light of the fact that defendant has no wife to go home to, defendant now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his lengthy sentence should his appeal be unsuccessful,” the judge added in reference to the ongoing divorce proceedings between Masterson and Bijou Phillips.

Transferred to North Kern State Prison in late December, the 47-year-old Masterson is currently serving a 30-year to life sentence on dual rape convictions. Under present Golden State statutes, he will be eligible for parole in 20 years. Not long after Masterson was sentenced in September and taken into custody, Phillips, who had been in court every day for her husband and was a strong advocate for him, filed for divorce. The couple have a young daughter, who has been placed entirely in Phillips’ custody, a well-placed source tells Deadline.

The Church of Scientology was not a formal defendant in Masterson’s criminal trial, but was constantly mentioned by prosecutors for its internal policies and role in a potential cover-up of the assaults by the actor of other members of the David Miscavige-led organization. However, along with Masterson, Scientology is a co-defendant in a civil harassment case by a number of the Jane Does from the criminal trial and members of their families.

As the Church now faces new potential RICO claims and Masterson faces more rape claims, that civil case is set to go to trial on September 22, 2025.

A constant supporter of multi-generational Scientologist Masterson during his arrest and two trials, the Church is alleged to have declared the actor a “Suppressive Person” late last year, according to a person close to events.