One woman testified that a Church of Scientology official instructed her to write a statement showing she would "take responsibility" for an assault in 2001.
Photo credit: Getty Images
That '70s Show actor Daniel 'Danny' Masterson was sent to North Kern State Prison in Southern California on Wednesday to begin his sentence for two rape convictions.
Authorities from the California Department of Corrections confirmed Masterson's admission, releasing his first prison mug shot.
He is wearing orange prison attire and has long hair and a beard.
Masterson's celebrity status made him a prominent member of the Church of Scientology.
Photo credit: California Department of Corrections
Masterson was sentenced in September to 30 years to life after he was found guilty of two counts of rape.
He pleaded not guilty to raping three women at his home in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003.
The jury was deadlocked on the third count.
Masterson is best known for his role as Steven Hyde on That '70s Show, which aired for eight seasons on Fox from 1998 to 2006, and co-starred Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Laura Prepon, Topher Grace and Wilmer Valderrama.
His wife, actor Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce in the weeks that followed the trial after a marriage of nearly 12 years.
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Masterson's celebrity status made him a prominent member of the Church of Scientology.
The Church labelled him a "suppressive person" and expelled him in October.
Under the Church's rules, anyone with ties to both the Church and Masterson must cut him off or risk being given the same label.
During the trial, each of the women told similar stories of how Church officials tried to stop them from reporting Masterson to the police.
One woman testified that a Church official even instructed her to write a statement showing she would "take responsibility" for an assault in 2001.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo concluded Scientology has "an expressly written doctrine" that "not only discourages but prohibits" its members from reporting one another to law enforcement.
This doctrine was the reason for the delay in reporting the crimes for so long, the judge found.
