Danny Masterson’s victims speak out in sworn documents in lawsuit against Scientology

Yesterday we told you about Mike Rinder’s sworn statement that he submitted as part of a lawsuit filed by four women who say they were violently raped by Danny Masterson, three of them while they were members of the Church of Scientology.

Today, we have the sworn statements from the women themselves, who are speaking up in order to fight Scientology’s attempt to derail their lawsuit by forcing them into “religious arbitration.”

Chrissie Carnell Bixler, Bobette Riales, and two women going by the names Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 came forward to the Los Angeles Police Department more than three years ago with allegations that they had been violently raped by Masterson in incidents between 2001 and 2004. The LAPD investigation of those allegations continues, and in recent months we’ve reported that three additional women have come forward to the police. The LAPD initially forwarded its findings to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office in April 2017 for prosecution, but DA Jackie Lacey has still not said anything about whether she plans to file charges.

Last August, the four women and Carnell Bixler’s husband, rocker Cedric Bixler-Zavala, filed their lawsuit over what they claim was the intense Scientology “Fair Game” harassment campaign they’d been subjected to because they had come forward to the police. So while they continue to wait for the criminal investigation to come up with rape charges, they are suing over the harassment they say they’ve been put through in a coordinated effort by Scientology, its leader David Miscavige, and Masterson.

Scientology responded to the lawsuit in a number of ways, and one of them was to file motions to compel the four of the five plaintiffs who had been former Scientologists — all but Riales — to submit to “religious arbitration,” derailing the lawsuit. Scientology claims that as church members, the three women and Bixler-Zavala had signed binding agreements promising to take any grievances to arbitration rather than suing the church in court.

The plaintiffs responded with a well-written opposition signed by their attorney Bobby Thompson, arguing that forcing former Scientologists to go through the “religious ritual” of religious arbitration would be unconstitutional. They each also submitted declarations to go along with that document, and we have them for you here in their entirety.

 
Chrissie Carnell Bixler

[The document in its entirety.]

Chrissie became a Scientologist in 1997 at the urging of her then boyfriend, Danny Masterson. She says that she has no recollection of signing the documents submitted by Scientology as proof that she agreed to “religious arbitration.”

She points out that some of the supposed agreements submitted by Scientology lack signatures or initials. When she did sign documents in the church, “I understood that I had no choice but to sign them.”

I was sexually assaulted by Danny Masterson numerous times between approximately 1997-2002. I reported to the Church of Scientology that I had been sexually assaulted by Masterson. In 2002 I fled from the emotionally, verbally, physically, and sexually abusive relationship I was in with Masterson. I remained a member of the Church of Scientology but did not regularly receive religious services. The last religious service I received through the Church of Scientology was in approximately 2012.

In October 2016, she learned about Jane Doe #1. In December, they went to the LAPD.

In March 2017, we broke the news of the investigation.

In March 2017, Jenni Weinman, Masterson’s publicist, identified me in the press as having reported Masterson’s sexual assaults to the LAPD. I have since spoken publicly about Masterson’s crimes. I have been declared a Suppressive Person by the Church of Scientology.

She now identifies as a Christian.

 
Cedric Bixler-Zavala

[The document in its entirety.]

“I am not nor have I ever been a member of the Church of Scientology.”

That’s an interesting claim, because in the next sentence he confirms that he received “religious services” two or three times over a period of one or two years. As far as Scientology is concerned, that made him a member of the church. But Cedric is denying that. He also says he’s had nothing to do with the church since 2012.

Regarding the enrollment application the church submitted as evidence: “I have no recollection of ever filling out, seeing, initialing, or signing any of this document.”

About being presented a document to sign: “I asked if I should have an attorney review the document and I was told ‘no’…I was not given the opportunity to read or review the document nor was I given the chance or opportunity to negotiate the terms of the document.”

In March 2017, Masterson’s publicist publicly identified my wife as having reported the repeated violent sex offenses he committed against Chrissie to the LAPD. Both Chrissie and I became public critics of Masterson and the Church of Scientology for their role in covering up the repeated violent sex offenses that Masterson has committed against numerous women.

He now identifies as a Catholic.

 
Jane Doe 1

[The document in its entirety.]

Born in 1974, Jane Doe 1 (whom we’ve been referring to as Victim B) became a Sea Org member at 14.

About the document Scientology submitted as evidence…

“I have no recollection of ever filling out, seeing, initialing, or signing this document. I have seen the signature and printed name of the ‘witness’ to this document. I do not know the person who supposedly witnessed this document. There is no signature at the bottom of the document evidencing any representative of the Church of Scientology accepted me for religious services.”

Being a Scientologist meant signing documents without questioning it, she says.

I was sexually assaulted by Danny Masterson on separate occasions in 2002 and 2003. I reported both sexual assaults to the Church of Scientology. After reporting to the Church that I had been sexually assaulted by Masterson I was ordered to do an ethics program. I also reported to the Los Angeles Police Department. In 2004, after reporting to the LAPD, I was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement related to the sexual assault. The non-disclosure agreement included Danny Masterson and the Church of Scientology. At no time during that process did anyone discuss or demand that the matter be handled through “religious arbitration.”

She now identifies as a Catholic.

 
Jane Doe 2

[The document in its entirety.]

Born in 1978, Jane Doe 2 (whom we’ve been referring to as Victim C) joined Scientology at 15.

About the six documents submitted by Scientology as evidence: “I have no recollection of ever filling out, seeing, initialing, or signing any of these documents.”

Her name is misspelled on two of the contracts, and she doesn’t believe that she filled them out.

She was sexually assaulted by Masterson “during the winter months between 2002 and 2004.”

I disclosed that Masterson sexually assaulted me to multiple individuals after 2003. In 2011 I disclosed that Masterson sexually assaulted me to his former personal assistant, Brie Shaffer, who I did not know was still friends with Masterson. Soon after Shaffer and many other Scientologists began to disconnect from me on social media. I have been declared a “Suppressive Person” by the Church of Scientology.

[Brie Shaffer is married to actor Michael Peña, who is also a Scientologist.]

 
Bobette Riales

[The document in its entirety.]

“I am not nor have I ever been a member of the Church of Scientology.”

Because Bobette was never a Scientologist, the church cannot force her into arbitration.

She began dating Masterson in 2002: “We were in a relationship for approximately one and a half years. During the course of our relationship he sexually assaulted me numerous times.”

 
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Jackie Lacey’s vote falls even farther below 50 percent

Another set of ballots has been counted by Los Angeles County, and in the latest reckoning, Jackie Lacey’s portion of votes in her attempt to win a third term as District Attorney has fallen to 49.25 percent.

She needs to have 50 percent plus one vote in order to avoid a runoff with the second vote-getter, who is former San Francisco DA George Gascón.

Initially, after early voting was counted, Lacey had 54 percent of the vote, but in the days since the March 3 election, with each new portion of ballots counted, her lead has fallen steadily, and right now she is below the level needed to avoid a runoff.

We’re interested in this race because of Lacey’s inaction over the last three years regarding the LAPD investigation of Danny Masterson. A source close to Lacey told us that she has no plans to charge Masterson criminally because she doesn’t want to tangle with the Church of Scientology. If the victims want to see Masterson charged, the source said, they should hope for her to be unseated by Gascón.

Increasingly, it’s looking like Lacey will have to face off with Gascón one-on-one in the November general election.

We can certainly think of a way she could answer her critics and boost her chances of winning that race.

 
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Scientology cancels ‘Writers of the Future,’ but what about last night?

Like so many other things, the Writers of the Future contest has faced reality and decided not to hold a gathering in the coronavirus era. The April 3 annual gala in Los Angeles has been cancelled and may be rescheduled for later in the year.

But what about last night? We’ve seen a couple of communications from Scientologists that the annual L. Ron Hubbard birthday event was being held last night at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida, which has a capacity of a little more than 2,000 people. Did David Miscavige go ahead with the holiest celebration on the Scientology calendar?

Let us know if you find any photos of the event.

 
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Jon Atack on Scientology’s hard sell

 
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Source Code

“It was a lovely party. A smashing cake, a lovely present, the Snipes songs and all your happy smiles and applause made it a truly wonderful birthday. (I didn’t know how old I was this life, was sure I was several years younger, until the congratulations and best wishes. I added it up. 60. I still don’t believe it. Are you sure we haven’t skipped some calendar years somewhere?) It was a great day. And I appreciate you more than you will ever know.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 14, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Unlike the 8th dynamic, MEST can be experimented with and gives repeatable results. Exactly how does a thetan interact with a body? We do it effortlessly but what is the mechanism? Can we interact with another bit of MEST in the same way? Why not? MEST exists apparently timelessly. That is to say, the interactions between MEST particles and fields purely and only exist in the present moment — there is no memory, no effect from earlier states. Obviously things change, but at each moment MEST things only react to present-time forces. We ourselves do not exist in that present moment, by the time our brains have processed information we are most of a second out of date. Hence when we try to affect MEST we can’t since it isn’t there in the past in which we are existing.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Hey, if chronic drunkenness, drug addiction, and debauchery were good enough for L. Ron, they’re good enough for me!”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for April 14 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for April 16
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology: April 22 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), June (demurrers by Masterson and Scientology), June (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, March 19 depositions (Warren McShane, Lynn Farny), March 24 deposition (David Miscavige), April 20 hearing set (motion to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Complaint filed.

 
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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] David Miscavige presides over Scientology’s holiest annual celebration of L. Ron Hubbard
[TWO years ago] Lori Hodgson’s fight with Scientology for her kids is now a book you can pre-order
[THREE years ago] Memories of a Scientology warrior: Marty Rathbun’s curious career as church rebel
[FOUR years ago] Turns out at least FOUR employees sued Pasadena firm that forced Scientology on them
[FIVE years ago] Outtakes from the 1997 ‘Secret Lives’ doc — an eyewitness at the Jack Parsons house
[SIX years ago] TEXAS JUDGE DENIES SCIENTOLOGY’S ‘ANTI-SLAPP’ MOTION IN RATHBUN SUIT
[SEVEN years ago] Your Life as Sperm or Egg: L. Ron Hubbard’s Mad Genius
[EIGHT years ago] In Clearwater for LRH’s 101st Birthday: Tales of Disconnection and Scientology Creepiness

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 14, 2020 at 07:00

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