Convicted rapist Danny Masterson’s wife, Bijou Phillips, “still cannot accept” that he sexually abused two women, calling him in a letter a “great father” who worked to protect “younger actors from temptation “to protect” and asked a judge for leniency in sentencing.
Philliips, 43, remained by the actor’s side throughout two trials and appeared dejected as she sat among a somber group of Scientology friends and family members during Thursday’s sentencing hearing. A source tells she still believes in his innocence and is worried about his safety in prison as a notorious convicted rapist.
But the actress’ letter – and that of his celebrity friends Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis – apparently did not affect Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo, who handed down the harshest sentence possible: 30 years – 15 for each conviction Rape.
Masterson, 47, blew a kiss to his wife of nearly 20 years as he was escorted to begin his prison sentence.
In her letter, Philliips claimed Masterson was a “life-saving” partner who turned to farming to support his family when the allegations against him surfaced and he lost his acting career.
Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women. His wife, 43-year-old actress Bijou Philliips, who has stood by his side in two criminal trials, looked dejected as she sat among a somber group of Scientology friends and family members
Convicted rapist Danny Masterson blows his wife Bijou Phillips a kiss in the courtroom as he is sentenced to 30 years in prison
She also noted Masterson’s aversion to drugs – a general principle of Scientology – and his apparent commitment to helping young actors escape the doom of wealth and fame.
A source close to Philliips told : “Bijou’s only positivity about things comes from her trust in Danny and the appeal process.” She maintains the fact that she has complete trust that he will never do that did what he was accused of doing, she cannot accept that as true. And she expects justice to be served in the appeal process.
“Danny is adamant that he has done nothing wrong and Bijou believes him.” Her other thoughts are a little more frightening and morbid. She doesn’t think Danny will harm himself in prison, but she is very worried that someone might harm him or even kill him, and the stress it brings is on a level she’s never experienced before felt before. “It’s a nightmare, but she will continue to be by his side and continue to be there for her daughter.”
has reached out to Phillip’s representatives for comment on this story.
Before his sentencing, Masterson’s attorney, Shawn Holley, urged the judge to impose multiple 15-year sentences rather than consecutive ones, saying it would be “fair and just.”
Bijou Phillips cries in court as her husband and father of her young daughter is sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping two women
Bijou must come to terms with the prospect of raising her child alone after her 47-year-old husband was convicted of two counts of rape in a Los Angeles court in May
Prosecutor and Assistant District Attorney Reinhold Mueller asked the judge to impose a sentence of 30 years to life, saying Holley’s plea for just 15 years was “not fair and just…at all.” Thirty years to life in prison is deserved.
“After the first rape, Masterson had time to think about what he had done,” he said. “Still, he raped again.”
Masterson had two trials. His first trial, six months earlier, ended in a mistrial after a different jury was hopelessly deadlocked on all three rape charges. He was released on $3.3 million bail in both cases, but that freedom ended with his double conviction on May 31.
Since then, he has been incarcerated at the infamous Men’s Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles.
Masterson’s victims tearfully told the courtroom how he ruined their lives.
“You are pathetic, disturbed and extremely violent and the world is a safer place when you are in prison,” Jane Doe No. 2 said, looking directly at the actor, dressed in a gray suit and gray open-neck shirt.
“You are a true coward and a heartless monster,” Jane Doe #1 added. “I think life is an appropriate sentence.”
His accusers – whom identifies only as Jane Does 1 through 3 – are all former Scientologists and are also suing the actor and the Church of Scientology in civil court, saying they have been harassed and intimidated since reporting them to police. A status hearing on this civil case is scheduled for September 26
Bijou Phillips’ full letter to the judge
Dear Judge Olmedo,
I am writing to ask you to consider this information when sentencing my husband, Danny Masterson. Danny and I have been together for 19 years. We got married in 2011 and our beautiful daughter was born in 2014. It is the ray of hope in many years full of crises and uncertainty.
I can say that Danny has been a life-saving partner for me in every sense of the word.
[Section redacted]
Our daughter was just three years old at the time. She was our prodigy. I depended on Danny to take care of me and our daughter. I always felt like she would be fine because Danny is a great dad. He lovingly took care of our daughter, read her books, took her for walks and took her to ballet classes. I never heard him complain once. The two were inseparable.
[Section redacted]
When we finally returned home, we thought we could focus on our life as a family. It was at this point that investigations began against him. After losing his show and acting career, he dedicated himself to finding other ways to make a living.
We left our home in Los Angeles and moved to a farm in Santa Ynez where I could recover. Danny immediately began working the land, growing a beautiful 6,000-vine vineyard that he tended alone for six years. He worked long days on the land to make it profitable for our family. He took courses to learn about growing grapes and wine and became a sommelier. He also studied the business aspect.
Danny has always been opposed to drugs and has helped so many friends and co-workers get sober. My husband, who has never smoked a joint in his life, has strong feelings about drugs that have never wavered. He tried to protect the younger actors he worked with from such temptations and gave them advice about their careers and lives.
Danny is a great father. Our daughter and I are heartbroken that he is not in our home. Without him it was very difficult here. Even though he’s in jail now, he calls her every day. He helps her with her homework every evening. He teaches her math with kindness and patience. She performs well above grade level in all subjects and is reading three grades better than herself, and that is thanks to her father’s guidance and attention.
Danny has watched her recitals and applauded as she practices in the living room after each song. Our daughter loves her pony on our farm as well as our dogs and cats. But more than anything, she loves her father. When he calls us every day, it ends with, “I love you too much, dad.”
[Sentence redacted]
We need him more than you can imagine. I know he was convicted of serious crimes. But the man I married was just an exceptional husband to me and a devoted father to our daughter.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
Very respectful,
Bijou Phillips Masterson