For two decades, Danny Masterson was best known for playing the sarcastic, sunglasses-wearing Steven Hyde on That ’70s Show. That public image shattered in 2023 when a Los Angeles jury convicted him of raping two women.

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Conviction: Two counts of rape (May 2023) · Sentence: 30 years to life in prison · Victims: Two women (Jane Doe 1 and 2) · Current Status: Incarcerated at the California Men’s Colony

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Jury verdict: May 2023 (ABC News)
  • Sentence imposed: Sept 7, 2023 (Court TV)
  • Habeas corpus petition filed: Nov 2025 (ABC7 Los Angeles)
4What’s next
  • Main appeal still pending as of Nov 2025 (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • Not eligible for parole for more than 20 years (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • Possible further habeas challenges (ABC7 Los Angeles)

Eight key identifiers anchor the public record on Masterson:

Full Name Daniel Peter Masterson
Born March 13, 1976
Occupation Actor
Known For Steven Hyde on That ‘70s Show
Spouse Bijou Phillips (m. 2011)
Conviction Two counts of forcible rape
Sentence 30 years to life
Prison California Men’s Colony (as of Nov 2025)

What is the latest verified information about Danny Masterson?

Conviction and Sentence

  • On May 31, 2023, a Los Angeles jury found Masterson guilty on two counts of forcible rape after a retrial. (ABC News)
  • In September 2023, Los Angeles Superior Judge Charlaine Olmedo sentenced him to 30 years to life — two consecutive 15‑year terms, one for each count. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • A third rape count ended in a mistrial and prosecutors chose not to retry him. (Court TV)
  • Masterson must register as a sex offender for life. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
The upshot

The consecutive structure means Masterson will serve at least 25 years before parole eligibility — a term that, given his age of 47 at sentencing, likely amounts to a life sentence.

Current Prison Status

Masterson was initially admitted to North Kern State Prison and later transferred. As of November 2025, he is held at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. (ABC7 Los Angeles; Court TV)

Appeal Status

  • Masterson filed a direct appeal shortly after sentencing. (Court TV)
  • In November 2025, he filed a separate habeas corpus petition with California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal, arguing his trial lawyer failed to call key witnesses and introduce essential evidence. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • As of mid‑November 2025, both the appeal and the habeas petition remain under review.

Bottom line: The conviction and sentence are final on the trial level, but Masterson’s legal team is actively pursuing two parallel avenues to overturn the verdict. For the prosecution, the habeas petition raises a fresh set of factual allegations that judges will weigh against the trial record.

What should readers know first about Danny Masterson?

Background and Early Life

  • Born March 13, 1976, in Nassau County, New York. (Court TV)
  • Rose to fame as Steven Hyde on Fox’s That ‘70s Show (1998‑2006). (ABC News)
  • Has also appeared in films such as The Girl Next Door, Yes Man, and The Bridge to Nowhere.

Key Legal Timeline

  • June 2020: Arrested on three counts of rape. (Court TV)
  • 2022: First trial ends in a hung jury on all three counts.
  • May 2023: Retrial jury finds him guilty on two counts, deadlocks on the third. (ABC News)
  • September 7, 2023: Sentenced to 30 years to life. (Court TV)

Notable Accusations

The two women — identified in court only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — testified that Masterson raped them in his Los Angeles home between 2001 and 2003. (ABC News) Masterson pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence throughout.

Why this matters: The decade‑long gap between the alleged assaults and the conviction highlights the difficulty many sexual‑assault victims face in coming forward — a pattern that continues to shape public discussion around the Masterson case.

Which official sources confirm key claims about Danny Masterson?

Court and Legal Records

  • Los Angeles Superior Court records document the indictment, trial, and sentencing. (Court TV)
  • California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal is docketing both the direct appeal and the habeas petition. (ABC7 Los Angeles)

News Reports from Verified Outlets

  • ABC News covered the verdict, sentencing, and victim impact statements in detail.
  • NBC News published a video report on the 30‑year sentence. (NBC News)
  • PBS NewsHour provided a summary of the case and its procedural history.
  • The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times also reported extensively on the trial. (Associated Press)

Victim Testimonies

Both Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 gave emotional testimony during the retrial. At sentencing, one victim told the court, “When you raped me you stole from me.” (ABC News Live)

The pattern: Court records, national news outlets, and the victims’ own sworn statements form a consistent, multi‑source record of the events and the proceedings.

What is still unclear or unverified about Danny Masterson?

Ongoing Appeal

While the habeas petition filed in November 2025 cites specific alleged failures by trial counsel — including the omission of key witnesses and the failure to introduce certain evidence — the California appeals court has not yet ruled on either the direct appeal or the habeas petition. (ABC7 Los Angeles) The merits of those claims remain untested.

Allegations Beyond the Trial

Multiple other women have accused Masterson of sexual assault over the years. None of those additional allegations were part of the criminal trial. Whether any will lead to separate legal action is unknown.

Scientology Involvement

Masterson is a lifelong member of the Church of Scientology. During the trial, the victims alleged that church officials intimidated them and even hired private investigators to track them. (Court TV) The church has denied wrongdoing. The full extent of any coordination, or lack thereof, has not been established in a public evidentiary record.

What to watch

The unresolved appeal and the persistent questions about outside influence mean this case remains legally and publicly open, even after a conviction and a 30‑year sentence.

The implication: The conviction is final at the trial level but the legal battle is far from over.

What are the most common user questions on Danny Masterson?

Top FAQs

  • What is Danny Masterson’s date of birth? March 13, 1976.
  • Who is Danny Masterson’s wife? He married actress Bijou Phillips in 2011. (Court TV)
  • Does Danny Masterson have children? Yes, one daughter, born in 2014.
  • Where is Danny Masterson currently imprisoned? As of November 2025, he is at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • Is Danny Masterson on parole? No. He is not eligible for parole for at least 20 years. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • What movies did Danny Masterson star in besides That ‘70s Show? He appeared in The Girl Next Door, Yes Man, and Men at Work, among others.
  • How did Danny Masterson become famous? He landed the role of Steven Hyde on That ‘70s Show, which aired from 1998 to 2006 and became a pop‑culture staple.

Timeline: Danny Masterson case

  • 1976 — Born in Nassau County, New York. (Court TV)
  • 1998‑2006 — Stars as Steven Hyde on That ‘70s Show. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • 2001‑2003 — Two alleged rapes occur in Masterson’s Los Angeles home. (ABC News)
  • June 2020 — Arrested on three counts of rape. (Court TV)
  • 2022 — First trial ends in a hung jury.
  • May 2023 — Retrial jury finds guilty on two counts; third count mistrial. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • September 2023 — Sentenced to 30 years to life. (Court TV)
  • 2024 — Direct appeal filed.
  • November 2025 — Habeas corpus petition filed. (ABC7 Los Angeles)

What we know vs. what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • Masterson was convicted of two counts of forcible rape on May 31, 2023. (ABC News)
  • He received a sentence of 30 years to life on September 7, 2023. (Associated Press)
  • The victims were two women identified in court as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. (Associated Press)
  • He is incarcerated at the California Men’s Colony as of November 2025. (Associated Press)

What remains unclear

  • The outcome of his direct appeal and habeas petition is pending. (ABC7 Los Angeles)
  • Whether additional victims who made allegations outside the trial will pursue legal action is unknown.
  • The full extent of the Church of Scientology’s involvement, if any, has not been verified in court. (Court TV)
  • Possible further habeas challenges beyond the current petition are unknown.

Quotes from the courtroom

“You are not the victim here. Your actions caused these crimes.”

— Judge Charlaine Olmedo, during sentencing

“This was a violent, premeditated assault.”

— Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller

“The victims’ accounts were inconsistent and unreliable.”

— Defense attorney Phillip Cohen

Why this still matters

Masterson’s case sits at the intersection of celebrity, institutional power, and the #MeToo movement. The criminal justice system has delivered a severe sentence, but the ongoing appeal and the unresolved questions about outside pressure mean that for the two women who testified, the final chapter has not yet been written. For the broader public, the case remains a referendum on how courts weigh victim testimony against a defendant’s fame — and whether that balance has truly shifted.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Danny Masterson’s date of birth?

March 13, 1976.

What is Danny Masterson’s net worth?

Reportedly around $8 million, though this figure is not independently verified.

Who is Danny Masterson’s wife?

He married actress and model Bijou Phillips in 2011.

Does Danny Masterson have children?

Yes, one daughter born in 2014.

Where is Danny Masterson currently imprisoned?

As of November 2025, he is being held at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. (ABC7 Los Angeles)

Is Danny Masterson on parole?

No. He is not eligible for parole for at least 20 years. (ABC7 Los Angeles)

What movies did Danny Masterson star in besides That ‘70s Show?

His film credits include The Girl Next Door (2004), Yes Man (2008), and Men at Work (2006), among others.

How did Danny Masterson become famous?

He rose to fame playing Steven Hyde on the Fox sitcom That ‘70s Show.