Almost as soon as the news of Danny Masterson’s arrest yesterday started trending on social media, we were getting hit up by readers who wanted to know how Scientology would react to one of its celebrities facing 45 years to life in prison for violent rapes of three different women.
And to be sure, Scientology is very much involved in this case, even if some of the mainstream media outfits reporting yesterday’s news left that part out of their stories.
It’s not just that Danny Masterson is a lifelong Scientologist and was a reliable soldier among Scientology’s celebrities. The three women whose allegations have led to these charges were all Scientologists themselves (though no longer), and there’s solid evidence that the Church of Scientology knew about their allegations and actively tried to discourage the women from going to the police.
The person we’ve been referring to as Victim B went to the church after her 2003 rape, and she was then made to pay about $15,000 for past-life Scientology therapy to help her discover what awful things she had done in previous centuries that would lead her to becoming a victim in this life. This is classic Scientology behavior, and goes to L. Ron Hubbard lectures where he discourages the reporting of serious crime because all Scientologists need to understand that they have done even worse things in their dim pasts.
But Victim B went to the LAPD anyway in 2004, and in 2017 Yashar Ali at Huffington Post reported how the church swarmed that investigation in order to get it derailed. When the new LAPD investigation was opened in 2016, they found that the 2004 file of Victim B’s investigation was missing its reports. Scientology had not only got the investigation killed, the LAPD Hollywood Division had made it disappear.
Another thing that stuns us about this case is that the LAPD has been unable to locate some people who really should be interviewed. In particular, Angie LaClaire, a key auditor at the Scientology Hollywood Celebrity Centre who interrogated both Danny Masterson and Victim B in 2003, and would have prepared detailed reports about what they said. But the church disappeared LaClaire, who had been a major figure at the Celebrity Centre, and she hasn’t been interviewed. (We do have a guess, however, as to where she may be holed up while the heat is on.)
With Scientology and Masterson so intertwined on these cases, can the church really afford to kick him to the curb now that he’s facing trial and a potential life sentence?
“I think they will be very careful about what they say,” Mike Rinder tells us. “Along the lines of ‘The truth will come out once all the evidence is heard, we have faith in the American Justice System’ — even though Hubbard says it’s full of criminals and worthless. They have to be careful. If they throw him under the bus and alienate him he could cause a lot of trouble for them. They might want to keep him close so they can keep all their stories straight. There are many, many people who have their fingerprints all over this, as the first place the rapes were reported was to Scientology and they did everything possible to ensure it did not get reported to the authorities. I think they will try to be neutral publicly, but be circling the wagons with him behind closed doors. They know what a massive can of worms this can open.”
Leah Remini, meanwhile, warned Scientology that the prosecution of Danny Masterson had great portents for the church…
Finally, victims are being heard when it comes to Scientology! Praise the lord! This is just the beginning Scientology, your days of getting away with it is coming to an end! #justice #scientologytheaftermath https://t.co/oAFlIoWFYd
— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) June 17, 2020
Masterson was booked yesterday at 11:30 am and was released when he posted $330,000 in cash against the $3.3 million bail set against him to ensure that he’ll show up in court. His arraignment is set for September 18.
That provides a lot of time for news organizations to get up to speed on this story, and to research some things about Scientology and Masterson’s involvement in it.
One thing we wanted to help make clear in a complicated case is who DA Jackie Lacey is referring to in the press release she put out yesterday about arresting and charging Masterson.
1. “The defendant is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman between January and December 2001, according to the complaint.”
This is a reference to the woman we’ve been calling Victim A. She identified herself publicly as Chrissie Carnell Bixler, and only because Masterson’s then-assistant, Jenni Weinman, attacked her by name the day we first broke news about the LAPD investigation on March 3, 2017. A few unscrupulous websites repeated the name (most news organizations, reporting on Weinman’s accusations, left the name out), and Chrissie felt at that point that she had no choice but to identify herself.
2. “In April 2003, Masterson allegedly raped a 28-year-old woman…”
This is a reference to the woman we’ve been calling Victim B. She was raped at Masterson’s house at a party, and she did not date Masterson and is not a bitter ex-girlfriend, as Masterson has tried to portray her. She reported the incident to the Church of Scientology, which tried to discourage her from going to the LAPD and charged her about $15,000 for “past-life therapy” to try and convince her that evil things she had done centuries ago explained why she was victimized in this lifetime. In the civil lawsuit, Victim B is referred to as “Jane Doe #1.” (An additional detail that might or might not be important: We note that in the docket of the criminal case against Masterson, the violation date for his case is listed as April 25, 2003, which is the date of Victim B’s assault.)
3. “…and sometime between October and December of that year he is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman who he had invited to his Hollywood Hills home.”
This is a reference to the woman we’ve been calling Victim C. We interviewed her in 2017, and she provided a harrowing account of how she was attacked when she made her one and only visit to see Masterson in his house. Like Victim B, she did not date Masterson and is not a bitter ex-girlfriend, as he is trying to portray her. In the civil lawsuit, Victim C is referred to as “Jane Doe #2.”
Lacey said she was not filing charges on allegations by two additional women. One of them must be Bobette Riales, who came forward and joined the LAPD investigation in 2017. Like Victim A, Riales dated Masterson, and also alleges that she was attacked while she was unconscious, and multiple times. She will, we believe, still be a part of the prosecution as a witness even though her allegations have not led to charges.
Lacey referred to a fifth woman whose allegations will also not lead to charges. We reported that a total of seven women had talked to the LAPD about being raped by Masterson, and four of them were not Scientologists.
The three who did lead to charges, however, Victims A (Carnell), B (Jane Doe 1), and C (Jane Doe 2), were all Scientologists at the time of their attacks.
(And just a note for the Atlantic, which never corrected this mistake, the “Jane Doe” who filed a lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige in Miami last year — and who recently dismissed the case — is a woman who is separate from the Jane Does of the Masterson lawsuit.)
Many of our readers have been with us throughout this case, and so we know you’ll want to see this document, from Masterson’s booking yesterday.
Danny Masterson booking doc… by Tony Ortega on Scribd
SOME OF OUR PAST REPORTING ON THE MASTERSON CASE
March 3, 2017: LAPD probing Scientology and Danny Masterson for multiple rapes, cover-up
March 8, 2017: Danny Masterson: Victim C gets support from a veteran actress
March 11, 2017: Scientology made Danny Masterson’s Victim B search past lives to explain being raped
May 9, 2017: Masterson hires Michael Jackson criminal defense attorney Tom Mesereau in rape probe
Nov 2, 2017: Read the threatening letter Danny Masterson’s attorney Marty Singer sent a victim’s husband
Nov 26, 2017: EXCLUSIVE: Scientology interrogated Danny Masterson and accuser, didn’t notify LAPD
Feb 14, 2018: PROSECUTORS PREPARE CHARGES CARRYING LIFE SENTENCE FOR DANNY MASTERSON
Apr 27, 2018: Strange days for a woman accusing Danny Masterson of rape — and for her rocker husband
July 8, 2018: Masterson witness fears for safety as investigation drags on and on
Nov 30, 2018: LEAH REMINI: Los Angeles DA Jackie Lacey, do your job already
Aug 14, 2019: RAPE ACCUSERS SUE DANNY MASTERSON, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY, AND ITS LEADER
Jan 22, 2020: Cedric Bixler-Zavala blames Scientology for poisoned dog he had to put down yesterday
Feb 3, 2020: Here’s Scientology actor Danny Masterson’s legal response to his rape accusers
Feb 10, 2020: Another dog poisoned: Bobette Riales says harassment worse since suing Scientology
Feb 29, 2020: Amended complaint filed against Danny Masterson with new stalking allegations
March 14, 2020: Danny Masterson’s victims speak out in sworn documents in lawsuit against Scientology
May 4, 2020: Masterson: Drop me from Scientology lawsuit if the ‘Jane Does’ won’t name themselves
June 17, 2020: SCIENTOLOGY CELEB DANNY MASTERSON CHARGED ON MULTIPLE RAPE ALLEGATIONS
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“We used to be tolerant about [the University of] Chicago. Most of us wanted to go there because you only had to go a couple of years before they handed you a sheepskin and we were bored. But this outfit uttered this asinine statement: ‘We have tested all the techniques of Dianetics and found out it didn’t work.’ Well, in the first place it’s asinine because all the techniques of Dianetics didn’t exist in published form and were not available to them to test, see? So right away, that was nonsense. For instance, I know of techniques that were released at the first foundation in Elizabeth which have never seen the light of day; I have never seen them published or anything else. Matter of fact, I saw three or four splinter groups suddenly start up on stuff that was merely designed to take care of one PC or something like that, and then they decided that this would apply to all PCs and so forth. There are several brands of therapy which are adrift today which simply consist of one technique developed for one PC at Elizabeth. So for any outfit to grandly look down its nose and say, ‘We have tested all the techniques of Dianetics,’ you know? Well, what a statement, see? They haven’t got them to test. How would they even know if they had tested all the techniques? Right away they are irresponsible. And then to say they didn’t work would also be asinine because if they had tested even sloppily, they would have gotten some result someplace, unless they were simply uttering a publicity statement to protect the vested interest.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 18, 1964
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“L11 was started and there were tremendous wins in the beginning. During this time I developed the ability to ‘plunge’ into the case of other people, which scared me beyond belief. I recognized I was simply exteriorizing and going straight into the case of other people as I thought of them, I still don’t know why that compulsion to go straight into their cases, but I sort of had it. I realized I was able to ‘read minds’ and communicate ‘thetanically’ with my auditor. We had several actual conversations telepathically and this new world was amazing to me.”
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“So Kim shoots the ex-girlfriend and her entire performing ensemble and makes the families watch, and then sends them to labor camps. I bet C.O.B. pleasures himself fantasizing he had that kind of power.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women, on June 17. Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina: Sentencing was set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for October 7 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 August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: July 8 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), August 31-Sept 1 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed.
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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] Church of Scientology and David Miscavige sued for abuse by major legal players
[TWO years ago] Another sign Nation of Islam members are moving from Dianetics to full Scientology
[THREE years ago] Scientology caught red-handed breaking government restrictions — and without penalty
[FOUR years ago] When you postulate upon a star: L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology’s funny made-up words
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s slush fund: Jeffrey Augustine takes apart the fictions of the IAS
[SIX years ago] Scientology fires legal salvoes at the Garcias, and Vance Woodward fires back
[SEVEN years ago] What Scientologists at War Left Out: Some Annotations on Channel 4’s Documentary
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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 1,972 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,476 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,996 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,016 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 907 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,214 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,082 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,856 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,630 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,976 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,542 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,461 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,629 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,210 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,471 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,509 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,222 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,747 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,277 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,837 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,977 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,297 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,152 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,272 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,627 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,930 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,036 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,438 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,310 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,893 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,388 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,642 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,751 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 18, 2020 at 07:00
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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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