Danny Masterson was a Scientologist, child actor, and Hollywood star. But these days, he's better known as inmate number BW7253. It's an epic fall from grace.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00Danny Masterson was a Scientologist, child actor and Hollywood star, but these days he's
00:05better known as inmate number BW7253.
00:09It's an epic fall from grace.
00:10Before he was sent down, the actor was riding high on the success of his long-running sitcom,
00:14That 70s Show and Netflix comedy, The Ranch.
00:17He had like all the hookups.
00:18Wait, wait.
00:19This was like pre-TMZ, pre-cell phone camera.
00:22Yeah.
00:23You could like go out.
00:24Then, in June 2020, Masterson was charged with three counts of rape for sexually assaulting
00:28three women between 2001 and 2003.
00:32Following a mistrial in November 2022, Masterson was convicted in May 23 of raping two of the
00:37women.
00:38The judge admonished Masterson saying, quote, Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here.
00:44His victims didn't hold back during sentencing.
00:46Masterson stood emotionless as the women told the court how he'd ruined their lives.
00:50One called him, quote, pathetic, disturbed, and completely violent.
00:53And another added, when you raped me, you stole from me.
00:56That's what rape is.
00:57A theft of the spirit.
00:58The judge gave Masterson the maximum possible sentence, 30 years to life.
01:02Masterson currently resides at California Men's Colony, or CMC, which is about halfway
01:06between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and is eligible for parole in June 2042.
01:11He will be 66 years old.
01:13So what's prison life like for Masterson?
01:15The actor was initially assigned to Corcoran State Prison in Central California, a high
01:19security facility.
01:21But after just two weeks, he was relocated to a medium and minimum security prison.
01:25A source told Deadline that Masterson was moved due to concerns over the inmate's well-being.
01:29Life will undoubtedly be easier for him at CMC.
01:32Masterson is housed in a dormitory within the prison's West Facility, which is split
01:35into four separate units, EF, G, and M. CMC was originally built to be a hospital, but
01:40was taken over by the Army, which built 60 barracks buildings in 1954.
01:44A further 20 were later added, and it's currently undergoing further building and renovation
01:48work.
01:49There's plenty on offer to keep Masterson from getting bored.
01:52Classes are provided with a range of educational, therapeutic, and self-improvement programs,
01:56including cognitive behavior therapy and substance abuse education.
01:59In addition, classes on culinary arts, criminal thinking, anger management, family relationships,
02:04and assorted trades are offered.
02:06There's also a designated canine unit where residents train dogs to be first responders
02:10PTSD and disability service animals.
02:13According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation website, CMC
02:17is committed to providing its inmate population with meaningful rehabilitative resources
02:21in order to ensure the men who are released from CMC have the opportunity to rejoin society
02:26as peaceful, productive citizens.
02:29Masterson will have plenty of opportunities to remain in contact with any friends and
02:32family who still speak to him.
02:34The prison allows inmates to make video and audio calls, send emails, write and receive
02:38letters, and enjoy in-person and video visits from loved ones.
02:42Masterson will also have the chance to earn some money, although his paycheck will be
02:46significantly lower than what he's used to, given that inmates currently earn less
02:49than 74 cents an hour.
02:51Still, the actor will be able to toil away in either CMC's glove, clothing, and shoe
02:56factories, printing plant, knitting mill, equipment maintenance facility, or warehouse.
03:00But not only do they come ready to work, they learn trades in printing, in graphic arts,
03:05in manufacturing.
03:06It's certainly a step up from Masterson's previous digs.
03:09He was initially housed in the Level 4 Maximum Security Housing Unit, or SHU, at Corcoran.
03:14According to that facility's website, the unit holds, quote,
03:17"...inmates whose conduct endangers the safety of others or the security of the institution."
03:20Masterson was likely placed in SHU due to his celebrity status, combined with the sexual
03:25nature of his crimes, which made him a potential target for attacks by other inmates.
03:29And protection is something not to be sniffed at behind bars.
03:32Like the majority of today's prisons, California's facilities operate above capacity, and the
03:37overcrowding, staff shortages, and severity of crimes make them dangerous places to be.
03:42If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
03:47Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline
03:51at 1-800-656-HOPE, 4673.