Bijou Phillipsis “distraught” after her husbandDanny Mastersonwas sentenced to30 years in prisonin his rape case last week, a source tells PEOPLE.
Bijou Phillips and Danny Masterson.Jesse Grant/Getty; Joe Scarnici/Getty
Jesse Grant/Getty; Joe Scarnici/Getty
Masterson’s defense attorney Shawn Holley did not immediately return to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Phillips was in the courtroom — alongside members of Masterson’s family — for the sentencing on Thursday, according toVariety. The actor was seenblowing a kiss to his wifebefore being led away to prison in a court sketch.
BACKGRID
During the sentencing, two women he was convicted of raping gave victim impact statements and the Judge Charlaine Olmedo told Masterson, “Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another person’s voice and choice. Your actions 20 years ago were criminal, and that is why you are here,” according to the outlet.
Danny Masterson is seen blewing a kiss to wife Bijou Phillips during his sentencing hearing on September 7, 2023.Mona Shafer Edwards / BACKGRID
Mona Shafer Edwards / BACKGRID
A jury at Los Angeles Superior Courtfound Masterson guiltyof two counts of rape in May, per theLos Angeles Times. After jurors deliberated for more than seven days, a third count of rape resulted in a hung jury, the outlet reported.
Mastersondid not register much of a reaction to the verdict, according to L.A. reporter Meghann Cuniff, who noted that his family members were “fighting back tears” and Phillips also began to cry when he was convicted.
Cuniff reported Judge Olmedo as telling her, “Can you maintain your composure? I know it’s hard. But if not I need you to step outside.”
Holley confirmed to PEOPLE after the verdict that Masterson planned to appeal.
The source added that Phillips was “terrified about the sentencing.”
C Flanigan/Getty
Masterson was charged in 2020 with forcibly raping three women in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003. Since his arrest, Masterson has been out of jail on a $3.3 million bail. Hepleaded not guiltyto all three charges in January 2021.
At the time, Masterson’s attorney Tom Mesereau issued a statement to PEOPLE that said, “Mr. Masterson is innocent, and we’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify.”
Mesereau continued, “Obviously, Mr. Masterson and his wife are in complete shock considering that these nearly 20-year old allegations are suddenly resulting in charges being filed, but they and their family are comforted knowing that ultimately the truth will come out. The people who know Mr. Masterson know his character and know the allegations to be false.”
All of the alleged crimes occurred at Masterson’s home, prosecutors say, andall three accusers took the standto detail their allegations in May 2021 in a preliminary hearing.
Masterson was initially tried for the allegations in late 2022, but amistrial was calledafter jurors were unable to come to a unanimous verdict. Ten of 12 of jurors wanted to find Masterson not guilty based on the evidence presented.
Many of the allegations against Masterson first surfaced in March 2017 when the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division confirmed an investigation was taking place into sexual assault allegations against the actor. In November 2017,HuffPostreported that a fourth woman had accused Masterson of raping her in the early 2000s.
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After the allegations came to light, Masterson was removed from the Netflix seriesThe Ranch— which he appeared in alongside former'70s ShowcostarAshton Kutcher. United Talent Agency also cut ties with the actor.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
