Danny Masterson denied bail, judge says actor has 'every incentive to flee': Reports

Danny Masterson, who is currently serving time in California state prison after being convicted of raping two women in 2003, has reportedly been denied bail pending his appeal.

According to court records reviewed by USA TODAY, the "That '70s Show" actor had a bail review hearing at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday morning. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo wrote in her Wednesday order that she deems Masterson to be a flight risk, according to entertainment outlets The Wrap and Deadline, who obtained court documents in the case.

"If defendant's conviction and sentence are upheld on appeal, he will likely remain in custody for decades and perhaps the rest of his life," Olmedo wrote in her order, per The Wrap. "In light of the fact that defendant has no wife to go home to, defendant now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his lengthy sentence should his appeal be unsuccessful."

A little over a week after Masterson's sentencing, his wife of 12 years, Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce in September. The following month, Masterson asked a Santa Barbara Superior Court judge to grant legal and physical custody of their 9-year-old daughter, Fianna, to Phillips, with visitation rights for himself.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and Masterson's lawyers for more information.

Danny Masterson is serving a sentence of 30 years to life in California state prison

In late December, Masterson was admitted to North Kern State Prison to serve his 30-years-to-life prison sentence, which Olmedo handed down Sept. 7. In May, after deliberating for seven days, a jury of seven women and five men found him guilty of raping two women in his Los Angeles home in 2003. They could not reach a verdict on the third count, that alleged Masterson raped a longtime girlfriend.

"Mr. Masterson, I know that you’re sitting here steadfast in your claims of innocence and thus no doubt feeling victimized by a justice system that has failed you," Olmedo told Masterson during the sentencing.

"But Mr. Masterson, you are not the victim here. Your actions 20 years ago took away another person’s voice and choice," she continued. "One way or another you will have to come to terms with your prior actions and their consequences."

What to know about the Masterson case: What happened at his sentencing, why there was a retrial

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Danny Masterson denied bail as he serves time in prison for rape