Is Danny Masterson adding an OJ Dream Team lawyer to his defense? Also: trial set for Aug 29

 
At 8:30 am yesterday, Judge Ronald S. Coen was scheduled to hold a “995” hearing at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles in the Danny Masterson criminal case. But instead, Masterson’s legal team, led by famous defense attorney Tom Mesereau, asked for a continuation.

The reason? Because the defense team said it would be adding a couple of new members.

After the hearing, one of our tipsters happened to see Mesereau and co-counsel Sharon Appelbaum in the courthouse cafeteria, sitting with a very well known Los Angeles lawyer: Shawn Holley.

Holley was a member of the original OJ Simpson “Dream Team” at his 1995 criminal trial. She was brought on by Johnnie Cochran and was later manager of The Cochran Firm. She has represented such high-profile clients as Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Kim Kardashian.

Is she joining Danny Masterson’s own Dream Team? We’re trying to get confirmation. But anyway, Judge Cohen did give the defense more time to prepare, and he set the 995 hearing for February 8.

In the 995 motion, Masterson’s team is asking Judge Cohen to dismiss the case based on the idea that there was not sufficient evidence presented at the preliminary hearing, held by Judge Charlaine Olmedo in May.

In their moving papers, the Masterson team is reiterating some of the same arguments that they made in May, trying to portray the three women victims as liars who have coordinated and embellished their accounts of being raped by Masterson in incidents between 2001 and 2003.

But they’re also arguing that Judge Olmedo should not have allowed a discussion of Scientology’s policies in the preliminary hearing, and they’re accusing the prosecution of being biased against Masterson’s church.

In opposition papers, Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller points out that Masterson’s briefs have been filled with references to Scientology. And we also remember quite well that it was Mesereau who used a Scientology book during cross-examination at the hearing (and with disastrous results).

Anyway, we’ll have to wait until February 8 for Judge Coen to hear these arguments about Judge Olmedo’s May ruling.

As for Judge Olmedo herself, in her courtroom yesterday she asked both sides to settle on a firm trial date, and then set August 29, 2022 as the day the trial would begin.

While that seems a long way off, we got the distinct feeling that Olmedo is very firm about it, and that should be enough time for the 995 issue and any other motions or appeals by Masterson to be taken care of.

So, late August it is.

And if you’re concerned about Danny doubling his legal bills by expanding his dream team, keep in mind that his $7 million Hollywood Hills home is now listed as “under active contract” by his realtor, so it appears a sale is imminent.

It’s the best legal team money can buy!

Bonus items from our tipsters

Create your future! And send us a check!

 
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Source Code

“Actually, you can exteriorize a dog. You can process them. It’s very peculiar, but you can. They exteriorize as a mass. Did you ever run a preclear who exteriorized with a theta body? Hm? Well, you will someday. You will say, ‘Be three feet back of your head,’ and the fellow is there in a black shape with claws, or something of the sort. And then you have to exteriorize him from that black shape. Well, you’re already into the field of demonology when you say ‘Be three feet back of your head’ and you’ve got something which is a black energy mass which the individual conceives himself to be. You can’t see him. He’s invisible to you with your naked eye. But he’s not invisible to you with your theta vision. You can be 18 feet back of your head, leaning up against the molding strip, something like that; you say to this fellow, ‘Be three feet back of your head,’ and you’re looking at a demon….I’ve exteriorized a dog, much to his surprise. And pushed him back in again. Something on the basis of reaching in, grabbing hold of him as a theta body, pulling him out, and pushing him back in again. I’ve also exteriorized a coyote the same way. Coyote body lay there deader than a mackerel, while this process was going on. He’d been in full flight, and I reached from three feet back of his head and pulled him out of his body. All right. This may sound like a fairy tale to somebody who’s nailed down very solidly in Dianetics and is practicing man for the betterment of man. In Scientology we’re not very much interested in the betterment or the worsenment, and that is something which people have not yet completely isolated or noticed, and I haven’t mentioned very much in the field of Scientology. Get the idea? Scientology is an understanding of. That’s not necessarily a betterment of. You follow me?” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 11, 1954

Avast, Ye Mateys

“Nov 11 was Armistice Day, the end of World War I. Whistles blew and mobs screamed with joy because ‘the world had been safe for Democracy.’ Then Smersh really moved in, babied Bolshevik Socialist Russia, later spawned National Socialist (Nazi) Hitler. And a hundred million war dead later, the world is only safe for Smersh. Ah well, enough to make anyone cynical! But in all this time only ourselves has been burying Smersh top cats one by one. So there’s no need to be cynical. Get industrious. We’re winning whatever else is happening!” — The Commodore, November 11, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Once the implant stations, matrix, AI interface, etc are cleared the next gradient of confront is the actual people who orchestrate it and our own participation by choice and decision and at knowing and willing cause-effect. Or in this scenario effect-cause at the bottom of the tone scale in total failure & the unknowable and a state of confusion, trying to figure figure it all out, with zero responsibility & accountability. The lowest and 1st echelon of beings to confront beyond and outside the theta/mest construct are the highly trained, Telepathic OT Programmers.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1997: PA News reported that a Dorchester man has received damages to compensate him for an accident that has changed his personality so that he is a sexual pest to women. The man donated 15,000 pounds to Scientology after the accident. “Peter Lawrence summed up his problems as: ‘short term memory, concentration and women or to put it another way – women, women and women.’ Mr. Lawrence, 39, of Dorchester, Dorset, suffered a severe head injury in the 1991 collision when he was knocked off his motorcycle on the A322 by-pass in Surrey. His intelligence was undamaged – even possibly enhanced – but he had been left with impaired memory and a change of personality caused by damage to those parts of the brain which govern behaviour, emotion and control. This had shown itself, particularly, in sexual disinhibition so that he was an ‘offensive pest or worse’ when he came into contact with women, said Mr. Justice May in London. His extravagance with money showed itself in 1992 when he donated up to 15,000 to the Church of Scientology – of which his solicitor managed to recover 5,000. Mr. Lawrence drove impulsively and fast, and his flat was a shambles. He bought tapes, CDs and videos impulsively and was excessively tempted by special offers.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Sunny is definitely Bunker Hall of Fame material after this. As long as she doesn’t get caught doing ‘roids or shooting an associate down the road from her house, she’s a first ballot shoo-in.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for February 8. Trial scheduled for August 29, 2022.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference December 17 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for November 19.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ US Supreme Court denied Valerie’s petition Oct 4.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments held November 2, awaiting a ruling.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9, 2020 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: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28, 2022.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.

 
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

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 BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. 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?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology still driving away talented people and ripping apart their families
[TWO years ago] Scientology snags an elected official (and JAG!) for its Central Ohio ‘Ideal Org’ ceremony
[THREE years ago] Michigan Catholic couple appears to open a Scientology drug rehab without a permit
[FOUR years ago] ‘Scientology is dying’: John Brousseau on the decline of Int Base and fate of Shelly Miscavige
[FIVE years ago] Leonard Cohen: This awful year strikes again with the loss of a transcendent genius
[SIX years ago] Under oath, Narconon official lets slip that drug rehab organized just like Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Kim Poff fired by Oklahoma agency after stories (including ours) described Scientology dispute
[EIGHT years ago] SCIENTOLOGY SUPER POWER COUNTDOWN: Six Days to Blast-Off!
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Tom Cruise’s Son Connor Fights the North Koreans!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 11, 2021 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, 1995-2020 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…

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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

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast