'That ’70s Show' star Danny Masterson loses rape conviction appeal

Recent coverage from outlets including FOX 8 News, NBC News, NBC Los Angeles, Rolling Stone, Yahoo, Deadline, ABC7 Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Times details the legal proceedings regarding the former That '70s Show star. A California appeals court has officially upheld the actor's rape convictions, rejecting a bid to throw out the verdict. The appellate decision also addressed content concerning Scientology during the trial, leaving the underlying guilty verdicts intact after the court defeat. According to reports from Rolling Stone and Yahoo, the defense team responded strongly to the judicial setback, describing the lawyers as going nuclear following the crushing court defeat.

Media coverage highlights that the appellate panel dismissed the arguments presented by the defense, confirming the convictions rather than granting a new trial or overturning the original verdict. Publications such as Deadline and the Los Angeles Times note that the ruling encompasses both the core rape convictions and related evidentiary challenges regarding Scientology introduced during the judicial process. Background information provided across the reporting indicates that this development follows the initial trial that established the criminal charges against the actor. The legal battle has drawn sustained attention from entertainment and news media due to the high profile of the defendant and the specific controversies surrounding the trial proceedings.

While previous phases involved establishing the verdict, the current focus centers on the appellate review process and the formal challenges brought forward by the defense to contest the outcome. Looking ahead, coverage from Rolling Stone indicates that the legal fight is far from over, as the actor vows to take the case to the state supreme court. Subsequent reporting will track the filing of further appeals and any decisions made by higher judicial authorities regarding whether they will hear the case. For now, the appellate court decision stands, and observers are awaiting the next procedural steps from the defense team as they pursue further judicial review.