The Underground Bunker has learned that the Los Angeles Police Department has had formal contact with a seventh woman who says she was sexually assaulted by Scientologist actor Danny Masterson.
In 2017 we broke the news that three women were cooperating with the LAPD in an investigation of Masterson, alleging violent rapes that occurred between 2001 and 2004. A fourth woman joined the investigation that year, and we broke the news of a fifth and a sixth victim talking to the LAPD in December.
Now we have learned about a seventh woman having a formal interview with the police, and alleging that she was attacked by the That ’70s Show actor in that same time period.
The original four women are also suing Masterson civilly, and in his legal response Masterson has tried to paint his accusers as bitter former girlfriends and ex-Scientologists. But now that seven have come forward, only three are former church members, and only two were former girlfriends.
The timing of this news is also interesting: Early voting has started in Los Angeles County, where District Attorney Jackie Lacey is seeking a third term. The LAPD initially forwarded the Masterson investigation for prosecution to Lacey’s office in April 2017, and we reported in February 2018 that the managers in the office had signed off on charging Masterson under California’s strict “one-strike law” carrying penalties of 15 to life in prison. But Lacey herself has said nothing about filing charges.
A source close to Lacey told us that she was waiting for additional victims to come forward. But after we reported that a fifth and a sixth victim had spoken to the LAPD, our source said the real reason for Lacey’s silence was that because of her political ambitions, she didn’t want to tangle with the Church of Scientology.
Former San Francisco D.A. George Gascón, who is running to unseat Lacey, has criticized her record on failing to charge powerful men accused of sexual assault, and he specifically named yoga guru Bikram Choudhury and Harvey Weinstein as examples. Since he first made those critical remarks, Lacey did file charges against Weinstein after his trial in New York had started.
Our source, however, said that the best chance for Masterson’s accusers to see him charged would be for voters to replace Lacey with Gascón.
Weinstein’s conviction in New York, meanwhile, resulted after testimony from two victims who described being sexually assaulted. Each of them also had consensual relationships with the movie producer after their attacks. Prosecutors often warn that getting a conviction in such a situation is difficult, but the prosecution of Weinstein was successful and he faces up to 29 years in prison.
The evidence in the Masterson case seems even stronger than what jurors heard in the Weinstein trial. Two of the victims of the original four weren’t in any relationship with Masterson at all. One, a woman we call Victim B, had gone to a party at Masterson’s house, and she alleges that she was suspiciously intoxicated after he gave her a drink before he took her upstairs to his bedroom and attacked her. When she tried to fight him off, he choked her and pointed a firearm at her, she alleges. Another accuser, Victim C, says Masterson had invited her to his house — it was the first time she had gone there alone — and she too felt suspiciously impaired after a single glass of wine. He then attacked her in his shower, she alleges.
Their accounts are clear and consistent, and have not changed over time. There’s evidence, meanwhile, of the Church of Scientology’s involvement in covering up Victim B’s allegations, putting her through expensive and bizarre “past-life” therapy to convince her that she was at fault for her victimization, and also of a six-figure payoff by Masterson himself.
With three more victims coming forward in recent months, when will there be enough for the Los Angeles District Attorney to make a decision? And will that DA be Jackie Lacey or George Gascón?
Early voting continues in Los Angeles, and election day is next Tuesday.
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Jay Spina sentencing set for April 3
When the US Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York announced charges against Middletown chiropractors James “Jay” Spina and Jeffrey Spina and two others in August 2018, they said the Spina brothers had defrauded Medicare of some $80 million in a billing scam. We pointed out that the Spinas were not only back crackers but also were longtime and very involved Scientologists who had helped to promote Scientology’s sneaky front groups.
The Spina brothers pleaded guilty and we’ve been waiting to see how much prison time they’ll get. Jay Spina’s sentencing hearing has been moved back a couple of times, and now has been set for April 3 in White Plains.
But we also noticed that in an order signed by Judge Kenneth M. Karas, the prosecution and defense have agreed that Spina will be sentenced not based on $80 million in ill-gotten gains, but only $3.5 million to $9 million.
We’ll be interested to see how that affects the sentence he receives.
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“There’s a very simple way of making somebody’s arthritis turn on with violence. And you just walk up to ’em like this and wiggle your hands in front of his face. And of course by giving him this confusion outside of his body, he holds harder onto the body and that is what arthritis is, it’s a solid hold. All right. Now, you take an arthritic and you start to say hello and OK to this arthritic leg or joint, or something of this character, you are actually attempting to as-is or knock out of existence my communication, a lot of actual calcium. So it isn’t going to work. Not well or easily. But you take slight little somatics, little conditions, or fears of things, and run two way communication on them and you get some fabulous results.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 26, 1957
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“In session I’ve taken an exterior viewpoint to this universe – is it still called a thetan when operating exterior to a universe? Is it still called a thetan when it can create a universe separate from other universes?”
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“For the last time it’s a genderless demon eating a turkey leg.”
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Start making your plans…
Head over to the convention website and meet us in St. Louis!
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Jenna Elfman’s career finds new life in the zombie apocalypse
[TWO years ago] What happened when we had a scientist look at L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘science’ of life in the womb
[THREE years ago] Florida attempts sensible change to mental health law — so Scientology goes on attack
[FOUR years ago] The shocking space opera secret that is guiding Scientology litigation
[FIVE years ago] Can you help solve this odd Scientology financial mystery?
[SIX years ago] Ryan Hamilton files another lawsuit against Scientology’s Nevada drug rehab facility
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s “Disconnection” Policy: Music Lovers, This One Will Break Your Heart
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology and Nation of Islam Exposed in Florida School Takeover; In Israel, Miscavige Shown to be a Liar by Own Attorneys
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,860 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,364 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,884 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 904 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 795 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,102 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,970 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,744 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,518 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,864 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,430 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,349 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,517 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,098 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,359 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,397 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,110 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,635 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,162 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,725 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,865 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,185 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,040 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,160 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,515 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,818 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,924 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,326 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,198 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,781 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,276 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,530 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,639 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 26, 2020 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 14 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
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Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
