Danny Masterson blames lawyer for presenting poor defense at rape trial

Danny Masterson, who is serving prison time after he was convicted of raping two women in 2023, filed a petition for a new trial, blaming his lawyer for putting on a poor defense and landing him in prison

Danny Masterson, who is serving prison time after he was convicted of raping two women in 2023, filed a petition for a new trial, blaming his lawyer for putting on a poor defense and landing him in prison.

Masterson, one of the stars of the hit sitcom “That ’70s Show,” is serving a 30-year prison sentence in California over the two convictions. The jury deadlocked on a third rape count.

The petition for writ of habeas corpus, filed Monday in California, argues that Masterson’s lawyer did not perform proper due diligence in preparing for the case, resulting in a lack of adequate witnesses and information that resulted in convictions on two counts.

“The unfairness of the second Masterson trial was the result of prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias, and the failure of defense counsel to present exculpatory evidence,” Masterson’s new attorney, Eric Multhaup, said in a statement. “The jury heard only half the story — the prosecution’s side. Danny deserves a new trial where the jury can hear his side as well.”

The petition said that Masterson’s initial lead counsel was Shawn Holley but that she had to step away from the case. After the court denied a request to delay the trial, assistant Philip Cohen stepped in, and he is whom Masterson blames for his convictions, according to the petition.