A Los Angeles Superior Court judge handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison for each of his forcible rape convictions of which a jury found him guilty this past May. Judge Charlaine Olmedo ordered that the sentences be served consecutively.
The rape and sexual abuse began as the actor plied the women with alcohol at his home
The 47-year-old actor may face a lifetime behind bars for the rape conviction. However, Masterson’s legal team plans to appeal the convictions due to what they believe were substantial errors found during the trial.
Scientology Role
Masterson’s difficulties may not be over entirely. There have been reports of five other women who accuse Masterson of raping them as well but their allegations were suppressed by the Church of Scientology, of which Masterson is a member. According to one media outlet, “Three of the accusers who testified in the L.A. trial filed a lawsuit against the actor and the Church of Scientology in 2019, alleging that they were stalked after their police reports. Masterson’s defense team unsuccessfully tried to block testimony about the church from the trial, arguing it would bias the jury; a judge ruled that the women could testify to their feelings that the church had suppressed them.”
One of Masterson’s accusers who testified at trial told the court that Scientology tried to suppress the woman’s testimony, forcing her to complete an ethics program in which Scientology taught that she was not a victim but that she created the problem and responsible for what happened.
The Masterson trial, particularly the role Scientology allegedly played in what occurred, reflects a still pervasive attitude in society that victims of rape and sexual abuse are at least partly to blame for what happened to them. Of course, the truth of the matter is far different. Sexual abuse of any kind is a crime. Victims should seek justice. I am proud to represent countless victims of predators like Masterson who manipulate and abuse vulnerable people. If you or a loved one have been sexually abused by such a person, please contact me for a free initial consultation.
