Lawyers working for That ’70s Show star Danny Masterson tracked down jurors who found him guilty of rape, in a move that “alarmed” the judge in the case, who issued an order limiting the information available about them.
Masterson, 48, is currently appealing his May 2023 conviction, which found he raped two women in the Church of Scientology in the early 2000s.
He was sentenced by a Los Angeles jury in September to 30 years to life behind bars with the possibility of parole for two counts of rape by force, violence or fear of bodily harm.
But according to the LA Times, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo said she was “troubled” by the conduct of the attorneys who contacted jurors to interview them as part of his appeal, despite a judge’s order which was intended to limit the amount of jurors. publicly available information about them.
Olmedo said she received complaints from jurors who “felt pressured by the defense team,” adding that they “were not told they had the absolute right not to discuss the case if they did not want to.”
She wrote that several jurors had been the subject of “unwanted contact at their homes or workplaces by members of the defense team” and they wanted her to “inquire as to how the defense team obtained their identifying information.”
The judge said she ‘concerned that they were approached at their home.”
The newspaper reported that court records show jurors emailed Olmedo over concerns that Masterson’s attorneys should not know where they lived or worked.
Danny Masterson (pictured right, with wife Bijou Phillips in 2023) is currently appealing his May 2023 conviction, which found he raped two women in the Church of Scientology.
He played Stephen Hyde in That ’70s show between 1998 and 2006
Masterson was moved to the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo (photo)
One of Masterson’s attorneys, Shawn Holley, told the LA Times that she has spoken to three jurors since the trial concluded, including the presiding judge.
“I made it clear to all three jurors I spoke to (and ultimately met) that they were under no obligation to speak to or meet with me, and that they were all more than willing to do so. I’ve met all 3 of them [separately] at times and places that suited them, and I was cordial and respectful of their time and boundaries.
“I am confident that none of the three jurors I spoke with/encountered reported our interaction with Judge Olmedo as intimidating or inappropriate.”
Eric Multhaup, another attorney for Masterson, said one of his investigators located a juror through routine research and contacted them before Olmedo’s order went into effect on September 17.
It comes after Masterson was According to reports, he was transferred from the maximum security Corcoran State Prison to the less brutal California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo.
He was previously scheduled to serve his term at Corcoran State Prison, where Charles Manson was famously housed.
That prison, built in 1988, houses some of California’s most dangerous inmates and has a significant population of Level 4 inmates who require extra protection and supervision.
However, California Men’s Colony is a medium to minimum security prison and offers self-help and academic programs for inmates to learn job skills.
The courses include substance abuse counseling, mental health treatment and anger management.
That 70’s Show star Danny Masterson has been moved from his maximum security prison to a less harsh prison in Obispo, California
Corcoran State Prison houses some of California’s most dangerous inmates
In addition to cult leader Charles Manson (pictured), Corcoran was also the prison where Sirhan Sirhan, who murdered RFK, was held
Masterson has been transferred to a maximum security facility where Charles Manson was held for a long time
Records show the once prominent member of the Church of Scientology will first be eligible for parole in 2042, when the now 42-year-old is 66.
Following Masterson’s conviction, it was reported that he was under 24-hour supervision for possibly showing signs of ‘mental distress’.
Officers stopped by his cell every half hour to check on him “with the aim of monitoring his mental state and ensuring he was safe.”
Masterson’s legal team is currently attempting to appeal his conviction.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo said in January that Masterson “will likely remain in custody for decades, and perhaps for the rest of his life” if his sentence is upheld on appeal.
The judge, who oversaw his trial and subsequently denied him bail, declared him a flight risk in part because his now ex-wife Bijou Phillips filed for divorce after his guilty verdict last year.
The judge’s ruling read: “In light of the fact that the suspect has no wife to go home to, the suspect now has every incentive to flee and little incentive to return to state prison to serve the remainder of his to serve a long sentence if his appeal were unsuccessful. .’
The denial comes after Masterson’s attorneys Clifford Gardner and Eric Multhaup wrote a motion on Jan. 17 asking the court to grant the disgraced actor bail.
‘Suspect requests that the Court grant bail on appeal and offers to comply with all relevant conditions imposed by the Court that enable him to be a stay-at-home parent and financial service provider for his family, including house arrest and/or participation to an electronic monitoring program administered by the probation department,” the motion said.
After Masterson’s conviction for the two rapes, he was expelled from the Church of Scientology and declared a “suppressive person” – or an “SP” – which the church defines as someone whose behavior seeks to hinder the spiritual progress of those around him. to obstruct.