From behind bars, former “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson is launching a new legal challenge to overturn his rape conviction. This move comes just weeks after his estranged wife, Bijou Phillips, took significant steps to distance herself and their daughter from the incarcerated actor. Masterson is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence after being found guilty on two counts of sexually assaulting two women in separate incidents that occurred at his home in 2003. The recent developments mark a new chapter in the long-running legal saga that has effectively ended his Hollywood career.
The latest update in the case involves a formal legal document known as a habeas petition, which Masterson filed from prison. This type of petition allows a person to argue that their imprisonment is unlawful. In this filing, Masterson’s new legal team makes the bold claim that his previous lawyer, Philip Cohen, provided an inadequate defense during his trial. The petition alleges that Cohen failed to properly prepare for the case, resulting in a lack of witnesses and crucial evidence that could have supported Masterson’s version of events.
The core argument of the new petition centers on the assertion that Masterson did not receive a fair trial. His current attorney, Eric Multhaup, has stated publicly that the conviction was the result of a combination of prosecutorial misconduct, judicial bias, and a failure by the original defense counsel to present evidence that would prove innocence. The filing is supported by dozens of exhibits that, according to Masterson’s team, document this missing information—a story the jury never heard because the defense chose not to present a case.
Specifically, the petition claims that out of a pool of twenty potential witnesses, Masterson’s former lawyer only spoke with two. These unused witnesses, the document alleges, would have testified that the accusers spoke positively about their encounters with Masterson in the days and weeks following the incidents. The petition further states that other individuals present in Masterson’s home on one of the nights in question heard what they believed to be consensual sexual activity. Masterson’s team insists he repeatedly urged his lawyer to present a defense, but no witnesses were called.
This legal challenge unfolds against a deeply personal backdrop. Recently, Bijou Phillips filed court documents requesting the removal of the “Masterson” surname from their young daughter’s name, a poignant symbol of her effort to sever ties with her estranged husband. This personal rejection, combined with the new legal filing, paints a picture of a man fighting for his freedom from prison while his personal life collapses. The court will now review this petition to determine if there are sufficient grounds to grant Masterson a new trial, a process that promises to prolong the legal drama for the victims, the defendant, and their families.
