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The letters of help written for Danny Masterson by former co-stars Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have been shared with the general public, by which the couple vouched for Masterson’s “distinctive character” and pleaded for the choose’s leniency.
Kunis and Kutcher, as soon as essential characters on That ’70s Present alongside Masterson and now married, wrote the letters forward of this week’s sentencing by Decide Charlaine Olmeda.
Olmeda dominated this week that Masterson will serve 30 years to life in jail for 2 counts of forcible rape.
Throughout a retrial in Could, Masterson, 47, was discovered responsible on two out of three counts of rape that occurred between 2001 and 2003. Jurors couldn’t attain a unanimous verdict on the third rely, which alleged Masterson had raped a longtime girlfriend.
The letters written by Kutcher and Kunis have been printed by Los Angeles-based court docket reporter Meghann Cuniff, in addition to by longtime Church of Scientology critic Tony Ortega.
In Kutcher’s letter, he wrote: “(Masterson) set a rare commonplace round the way you deal with different individuals. There was an incident the place we have been at a pizza parlor and a belligerent man entered who’s berating his girlfriend. We had by no means met or seen these individuals earlier than, however Danny was the primary individual to leap to the protection of this lady. It was an incident he didn’t should become involved in however proactively selected to as a result of the best way this man was behaving was not proper.
“He has at all times handled individuals with decency, equality, and generosity.”
Kutcher continued: “Whereas I’m conscious that the judgement has been forged as responsible on two counts of rape by pressure and the victims have an ideal need for justice, I hope that my testomony to his character is considered in sentencing.
“I don’t imagine he’s an ongoing hurt to society and having his daughter raised with no current father would a tertiary injustice in and of itself. Thanks for taking the time to learn this.”
Kunis’ letter, in the meantime, contained many comparable phrases of reward and known as Masterson “a tremendous good friend, confidant, and, above all, an impressive older brother determine to me.”
“Danny has constantly displayed a profound sense of accountability and take care of these round him. He demonstrates grace and empathy in each state of affairs, be it throughout the leisure business or in our private lives. His regular help and understanding presence make him a dependable supply of steering and luxury for all of us,” she wrote, earlier than concluding with: “I wholeheartedly vouch for Danny Masterson’s distinctive character and the large optimistic affect he has had on me and the individuals round him. His dedication to main a drug-free life and the real care he extends to others make him an impressive function mannequin and good friend.”
Ortega additionally shared the letter of help written by Masterson’s spouse, Bijou Phillips, who requested for the choose’s leniency for his or her daughter’s sake.
“We want him greater than you may think about,” Phillips wrote. “I do know he has been convicted of significant crimes. However the man I married has solely been a rare husband to me and a loyal father to our daughter.”
In response to studies, greater than 50 individuals wrote statements of help to Decide Olmeda, together with That ’70s Present co-stars Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith.
Masterson pleaded not responsible to the costs of rape towards him. The retrial was known as after final 12 months’s unique trial on the identical three counts resulted in a mistrial when a jury deadlocked, failing to achieve unanimous verdicts.
Throughout the second trial this 12 months, deputy district lawyer Reinhold Mueller and his group tried to color Masterson as a serial rapist who has been protected by high-ranking officers within the Church of Scientology. They claimed Masterson, on separate events, put medication into the drinks of a longtime girlfriend and two different girls he knew via the church earlier than he raped them.
Masterson didn’t face any drug-related costs. Nevertheless, two of his attorneys confronted monetary sanctions after they leaked delicate trial details about Masterson’s accusers to the Church of Scientology.
“Mr. Masterson, you aren’t the sufferer right here. Your actions 20 years in the past took away one other individual’s selection and voice. Your actions 20 years in the past as we speak have been legal, and that’s why you might be right here,” Decide Olmedo mentioned whereas handing down Masterson’s sentence.
— With recordsdata from World Information’ Sarah Do Couto
© 2023 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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