Scientology celeb family the Mastersons selling houses: Getting out of Dodge?

With Danny Masterson facing 45 years to life in prison, we’ve been keeping a close watch on his criminal and civil cases at Los Angeles Superior Court. But we’ve also kept an eye out for what’s going on with the rest of the family, and there’s quite a lot going on.

— Danny’s mother Carol Masterson has now sold a beloved family home in Utah after getting it tangled up in a bizarre court fight.

— Danny’s brother Christopher Masterson and his wife actress Yolanda Pecoraro have sold their Los Angeles home that was also partly in Danny’s name.

— And their younger sister Alanna Masterson just put her Los Angeles house on the market.

Meanwhile, with both of his expensive Southern California estates tied up in his $3.3 million bail, Danny Masterson has been posting photos from Oregon since the beginning of the year and has been spotted there by locals.

Is something with this family going on as Danny faces the frightening prospect of a courtroom showdown in Los Angeles with multiple women who say he violently raped them?

We thought you’d want to hear the details.

Just a few days before the That ’70s Show actor was charged on June 16 with raping three former Scientologists, we remarked on the strange financial entanglements of his mother Carol Masterson and stepfather, Rusty Tweed.

Tweed was sued in 2017 by the SEC, which accused him of defrauding investors in a Ponzi-like scheme, while FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, banned him from trading securities for life.

We pointed out in that story an odd detail we found in the SEC’s paperwork: That while his financial scheme was falling apart, Tweed set aside $50,000 to make one of his stepsons whole before it all came crashing down. But which stepson — Danny, Christopher, or Jordan Masterson — was not identified. Tweed himself didn’t respond to our email asking if he would clarify which of his stepsons had benefited while his other investors took a bath.

Also in that story, we told you about the saga of Carol Masterson’s Park City, Utah home, which had been a favorite of the whole family. Danny Masterson often posted photos of Park City vacations.

Carol bought the house in 2006 with a $1.4 million mortgage, but she defaulted on the loan in 2010. In 2018 she sued the mortgage holder, Nationstar Mortgage, representing herself in court and making a lot of bizarre allegations, and submitting an affidavit from her husband Rusty as evidence for her claims. Nationstar countered by pointing out that Tweed’s credibility was zero after he was sued by the SEC. The court granted Nationstar summary judgment, but in January 2020 Carol filed an appeal which was similarly unhinged.

Well, here’s what we can tell you happened since then. In July, the appeals court affirmed the lower court ruling, and Carol’s lawsuit was dead. But if Nationstar had thoughts of initiating foreclosure proceedings, the pandemic provided Carol some relief as a moratorium assured she wouldn’t have to do anything until the end of the year.

With that deadline looming, however, records show that on December 2 Carol sold the Park City house to realtor Grant Sisler.

According to the Summit County assessor’s office, the 2020 value of the house, which we believe reflects the December 2 sale price, was $1,537,909.

That same day, December 2, Sisler put the house on the market for $3.3 million. Its current asking price is $3.195 million.

Just a few weeks after Carol finally sold the Park City house, Christopher Masterson and his wife Yolanda Pecoraro sold their hillside Northeast Los Angeles house on Eldred Street for $1.45 million. Danny Masterson was also a part owner of the house and signed the deed transfer on December 29.

Real estate websites say the sale was finalized on January 28.

And then, on Monday, Danny’s younger sister, Walking Dead actress Alanna Masterson, put her charming Atwater Village house on the market, with an asking price of $1.349 million.

 
As for Danny himself, he has two expensive estates in Southern California, his Hollywood Hills house on Hollyridge Drive which real estate websites value at about $4 million, and a four-bedroom home on 9.5 acres in Santa Ynez in Santa Barbara County where he was actually living, which is valued at about $2.2 million.

Records show that Masterson put up both homes to guarantee the $3.3 million bond that allows him to stay out of custody while he awaits trial.

But since the first of the year, he’s apparently been spending a lot of time in Oregon, where the cost of living is lower, and where he’s less liable to run into the kind of tabloid photographers who tracked him down at his Santa Ynez home last summer.

You may also remember our story about the court fight Danny himself has been involved in over his Hollyridge Drive house that is similar to the one his mother filed over her Utah house.

Like her, Danny has represented himself in a series of lawsuits that make bizarre allegations about the reality of financial documents, which the court has swatted down multiple times.

We don’t know if Danny is planning, like his mother, to get out from under that mess by selling his home. But if he were to get rid of his expensive California estates, encumbered as they are by the bail bond, he could sure live a lot more cheaply in a place like Oregon. And with the kind of money he’s spending on pricey attorneys like Tom Mesereau and Marty Singer for his criminal and civil defense work, and with That ’70s Show not being renewed by Netflix last year, Danny may need to find ways to stanch the financial bleeding.

Danny’s former stepfather Joe Reaiche has told us that Carol and her children are extremely tight as a family, and he said that they would not waver in their support of Danny, no matter the allegations against him.

We won’t be surprised if the entire clan decides to ditch the prying eyes of Los Angeles and decamp for somewhere more secluded.

 
——————–

Source Code

“One of the things that is going to happen in the next few months: You will probably see, increasingly, the word ‘Scientology’ occurring. And that is in order to give doctors of medicine and psychiatrists and psychologists an out. It is pretty hard, after a man has made a pronunciamento about which he knows nothing, to convince him that he ought to say something else about it now that he knows something about it, because he will lose face with the people he has said this to. So if we just give him another word for a similar package and we say ‘Now it’s Scientology, and Scientology embraces the Axioms,’ why, then, two things will happen: He can say, ‘Well, Dianetics was no good and Hubbard was really crazy when he threw that one. But Scientology — now, that’s different. scientifically done. It has a great many things to recommend it. Well organized, and it works! (Dianetics didn’t!)’ And as the students who are going to graduate out of Hubbard College will discover, their degrees are in Scientology, not in Dianetics. It says that they are professional Scientologists and that they are capable of understanding mental and physical stress and are eligible for further degree work in Scientology. So I hope these graduates will feel themselves capable of understanding physical and mental stress!” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 25, 1952

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“In LA and now on Flag someone is justifying reserves and prices charged by saying ‘Ron needs it’ or ‘it goes to repay Ron.’ It isn’t true. I’ve received no 10 percents for ages. An audit of monies owed me by orgs showed about 13.5 million pounds some years ago. I long since forgave the 13.5 million. Other more recent sums aren’t included. It takes money to run things and keep the show on the road. A lot of money. Particularly in our expanding scene. It’s all for a worthwhile cause. The actual cost of L10ing someone and giving all grades is close to the price charged. A hundred million would be a low down payment for our org tech. So realise the value of what’s being bought and sold. What’s the value of health to a suffering man? What’s the value of immortality to an Earthbound eclipsed being? You’re right. It would be priceless. There isn’t that much money. It doesn’t go to me. So let’s keep the scene real in all selling and pricing. It’s for priceless results. For the pc. Not for me. I am in a relaxed frame of mind of owing no one anything and not being worried about what I’m owed. Let’s keep it cool. (And by the way did you know the psychoanalyst and psychiatrist charge ten times our total fees for delivering a long and agonizing death?)” — The Commodore, February 25, 1971

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Once I heard of a college mathematics professor who was teaching his students that it was impossible to divide by zero. Based on what I had learned from LRH about the nature of zero I said to him, ‘Sure you can, and in all cases the answer is infinity.’ He started to say ‘No, no, no,’ but then his eyes opened wide and he said, ‘Wait a minute. You’re right! How did you know that? I never heard anyone say that before!’ He thought I was a genius. But it was LRH.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1998: Jim Lippard reported that Bruce Petticrew’s hearing in Arizona resulted in a limited restraining order, which prevents Bruce from making enough noise to disrupt worship services. “Leslie Durhman, current Director of Special Affairs of the Mesa Org, claimed when questioned by the judge that Bruce had shouted loud enough to ‘disturb services’ on multiple occasions during his pickets, because the door to the Org is sometimes left open when the air conditioning isn’t working. The judge, based on his comments in his decision, clearly believed that the Church of Scientology holds ‘worship services’ and that their freedom of worship was being disrupted by noise, and so made a content-neutral restriction on Bruce to prevent such disruption in order to uphold their freedom of religion. Of course, there ARE no such ‘worship services’ held at the Mesa Org or any other Church of Scientology — the judge simply assumed that this ‘church’ is like churches he was familiar with.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“When you tell vaLLarrr that LRH had no degrees or academic training, s/he replies that science hasn’t caught up to LRH yet and that Newton was insane and Einstein was a high school dropout. Rathbun was doing the same thing when he was trying to compare the quantum theory that nothing really exists unless you’re looking at it with Hubbard’s bullshit about subjective reality.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to April 13.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9. Pretrial conference set for Apr 29.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.

Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— 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.

 
——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Is David Miscavige winning? Scientology seems to be on a roll, but is the law about to step in?
[TWO years ago] No, the National Enquirer has not ‘found’ Scientology’s Shelly Miscavige
[THREE years ago] Orlando, you’re next! Scientology makes an ‘Ideal’ move on the magic kingdom
[FOUR years ago] More federal charges for Scientology family that sold rhino horn products
[FIVE years ago] Laura DeCrescenzo, on eve of crucial hearing, explains Scientology for new judge
[SIX years ago] Now it’s Scientology UK that opens its books, and we have the numbers
[SEVEN years ago] Telepathic space-age exorcism — Let’s do Scientology’s New Operating Thetan Level Six!
[EIGHT years ago] Anne Archer, Terry Jastrow, and…Could It Be…Tommy Davis, At Film Reception Tonight?
[NINE years ago] Scientology Thaumaturgy: Commenters of the Week!

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on February 25, 2021 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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, 15 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

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

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