Ah, the classic prison myth: “He’ll be out in 12 years because of good behavior.” In California, you can earn “good conduct” credits to reduce your sentence. But for violent felonies—and yes, rape by force is a violent felony here—the formula is different. He can earn credits, but they’re capped. Even with maximum credits, we’re still talking about serving roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of that 30-year minimum. That still pushes his release consideration to the 2040s. He was born in 1976. That means he’ll be in his late 60s or even 70s when he first sits down in front of a parole board. It’s not exactly a “get out of jail free” card, is it?
Danny Masterson Kinderen
And let’s be real: parole is not a sure thing. Even if he gets a hearing in 2045, the board can say, “We don’t think you’ve shown enough remorse,” or “You still pose a risk.” And then they just… reset the clock for another three, five, or seven years. That’s the “life” part of “30 to life” kicking in. It’s not a countdown; it’s a maybe.
The honest answer? We don’t know, but it’s a long time.
So when is Danny Masterson getting out? The honest, bloggy, sit-down-with-you-over-coffee answer is: probably never, unless he lives to be a very old man in a very forgiving state. The parole system in California loves to keep people in if they feel the crime was heinous, and this one definitely was. The most realistic scenario is a release in his late 60s or 70s, if he behaves perfectly and apologizes perfectly—which, given his history of arrogance, seems unlikely. For now, he’s an inmate at North Kern State Prison. He wears a gray uniform. He eats prison food. The jokes from That ‘70s Show feel a million miles away.
So next time you see a meme of Hyde rolling his eyes, just remember: the guy behind those eyes won’t be free until after your kids (if you have them) have graduated college. And if you’re waiting for an update that says “he’s coming home”? Don’t hold your breath. That lock is on tight.
