What does it look like when an upstat Scientologist shatters suppression in real time? Marc Headley told us all about it in yesterday’s end-of-day video!
We’re releasing that video below, and you’ll see that our subscribers got a real treat yesterday as we revealed what Headley saw in the hallway of the ninth floor at the courthouse. He’s in town for a project and decided to come down, asking us to meet him at the lunch hour. (We posted a photo together.)
When he expressed some curiosity about what the trial was like, we asked him to come up for the afternoon session, and he took a seat beside Jeffrey Augustine in the gallery. And if you were following our notes yesterday, you know he got to see some interesting things.
Jane Doe 3’s cross-examination finished up, and it was followed by brief sessions of redirect and re-cross. And then the first LAPD witness, Detective Alexander Schlegel, took the stand to testify about taking Jane Doe 1’s initial 2004 report. As we said in our video, we found this to be stunning testimony because defense attorney Philip Cohen had spent days making it sound like the 2004 report taken by Schlegel was nothing like what Jane Doe 1 is now testifying to. So when Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller went over the report in detail with Schlegel, it was startling to see just how consistent it actually is.
Marc also got to see Judge Charlaine Olmedo single out a man sitting not too far away from him for his poor behavior. Initially, she admonished him for gesturing and making faces during Jane Doe 3’s cross-examination. But later, she really ripped into him for talking while she and the attorneys for both sides were arguing over yet another defense motion for a mistrial. (That’s four in seven days of testimony, if you’re keeping score.)
Judge Olmedo asked the man to say and spell his name, and he turns out be Laguna Beach attorney Scott Borthwick. We had noticed him hanging around the Masterson family members for several days of the trial, and we wondered who he might be — he wasn’t dressed like an attorney, more in a business casual style, and so it wasn’t obvious why he was there. After he spelled his name, reporters quickly found that he has been co-counsel with Philip Cohen and Shawn Holley on previous cases. After Judge Olmedo dressed him down, he didn’t return after the afternoon break.
OK, we’ll just throw it out there: Could it possibly have been a strategy of the defense to have a shill in the audience, mugging and rolling his eyes at Jane Doe 3’s testimony in the hopes it might have an affect on the jury? Surely an experienced attorney knows he’s not supposed to be reacting that way in the audience.
Anyway, the really fun part happened a little later as we broke for the day. We sat in the back row, finishing up some things with our notes, and then walked out of the courtroom after it was mostly empty. Outside in the hallway, we found Headley and Jeffrey Augustine sitting on a bench and grinning at us. What was up?
That’s when they told us that we’d missed a wondrous sight: Danny Masterson — who has kept a poker face going for the whole trial — left the courtroom and had a strange reaction to seeing Headley sitting there in the hallway. They described his eyes widening as Danny glared at Marc. Jeffrey said his eyes were like lasers locking onto a target as Masterson walked by, his head on a swivel, glowering at his former Scientology acquaintance.
Yes, Masterson and Headley had known each other when Marc was in the Sea Org. He told us that they both appeared in a Scientology film, and ironically Marc’s character saved Danny’s character from being declared a suppressive person by vouching for him.
Yesterday’s encounter in the hallway was the first instance of Danny dropping his calm demeanor since the trial started that we’ve heard about. (Dominic Patten at Deadline reported that Danny also broke his poker face long enough yesterday to smirk during Jane Doe 3’s mention of an incident involving actress Jennifer Esposito.)
Anyway, we are very glad that Marc stopped by, and that he got to report seeing Danny shattering suppression like that. It sounds like it was quite a sight.
On a side note, we wanted to clear up something that was causing some confusion yesterday. When Det. Schlegel listed the names of witnesses from the 2004 report he took from Jane Doe 1, one of the names he said was Julian Swartz, the ethics officer who was the Master-at-Arms at AOLA. Some people took this to mean that Swartz was at the party at Masterson’s house that night when Jane Doe 1 says she was attacked. That’s not the case. He was listed as a witness by her not because he was there at Masterson’s house, but because she had gone to Swartz afterwards to report the incident at the church.
Another note from yesterday, we learned that the impending civil trial regarding the 2019 shooting death of Brian Statler has been headed off with a settlement.
Trial was scheduled to begin on Dec 6, and the defendants were the two Inglewood police officers who shot Statler at the Inglewood Scientology “Ideal Org.”
Statler’s parents originally filed the lawsuit, but they had been replaced as plaintiffs by Statler’s unnamed minor daughter, who was being represented by her mother, Decery Capponi, a Scientologist employee at the org.
Statler showed up that day wanting to see her, and he was wearing a Samurai getup. The police alleged that when they arrived and asked to talk to him, at some point he had wrestled with one of the officers and got control of his firearm, forcing the other officer to shoot him dead. The lawsuit questioned that version of events.
It was a bizarre incident, and we were surprised that it took this long to settle. We thought the chances of an actual trial were pretty remote.
And with that, here’s yesterday’s video for everyone. We’re back in court today!
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Technology Cocktail
“Theta comes into harmonious conquest of MEST and remains there as long as it can maintain its own self-determinism in regard to what it is doing with MEST. When any particular unit of theta is forced by MEST or any other theta unit in its creation, conservation, maintenance, destruction, acquisition, occupation and dispersal of MEST, it is disturbed in its conquest; when it is inhibited by some other theta unit, some life organism or MEST itself from creating, conserving, maintaining, acquiring, destroying, altering, occupying, grouping and dispersing MEST, it is failing in its mission.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951
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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 as trial begins and Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
— The Underground Bunker Podcast
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— SPECIAL: Your Proprietor’s updates on the Danny Masterson trial
[1] Sep 21 [2] Sep 28 [3] Oct 4 [4] Oct 10 [5] Oct 11: Day One [6] Oct 12: Day Two [7] Oct 13: Day Three [8] Oct 17: Day Four [9] Oct 18: Day Five [10] Oct 19: Day Six [11] Special interview with Chris Shelton, Oct 19 [12] Oct 20: Day Seven [13] Oct 21: Day Eight [13] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [14] Oct 24: Day Nine [15] Oct 25: Day Ten [16] Oct 27: Day Eleven
— The Underground Bunker Podcast on YouTube
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker
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“The condemnation of science is long overdue and, what do you know, has already occurred on the European continent and has occurred even in a more advanced state in England. Today the word science is so bad that when I started calling what we’re doing Scientology I got in to a minor revolution. It wasn’t anything but the fact that the English people today believe that science has let them down but thoroughly. And anything with science connected with it is something they rather smile sarcastically about. It’s not that they’re interested in humanity. They just know science doesn’t work. And what do you know, they’re drawing right back out of science. They are not following scientific method worth a nickel.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 28, 1953
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“AOLA: It is reported very quiet there — still peaceful. People very polite. No hum. No body traffic. Way below confusion. My guess is when our CO Mission hits it will go up into total confusion, find a major stable datum, began to cool off, find the new CO and begin to be an org again. A Former CO of AOLA is flabbergasted at the number of 41 staff members to run an AO. AOs run on high volume with half that many. We are putting in a big stable datum. The terminal of a ‘backed up CO.’ The two orgs we’ve sent ‘backed up COs’ to are zooming! Here goes the third.” — The Commodore, October 28, 1969
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“The Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) is in accordance to the fundametals of LRH ethics tech. It handles PTSes and SPs and that is the main points of ethics in society or groups or the Sea Org and in composite cases. And remember, the Sea Org is not a Shan-gri-la paradise for diletantes.”
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1998: Graham Berry posted a description of an encounter between Ursula Caberta of the German government and Kendrick Moxon, attorney for Scientology. “I took Ursula Caberta down a floor to where Scientology lawyer Moxon and OSA employee were inspecting documents. I shook Moxon’s hand. He then wiped his hands saying ‘can’t be too careful’. To Ursula he said, ‘You didn’t bring her down here just to show her boxes. Where is your uniform? She said it is casual day and uniforms are for the Sea Organization. Moxon then said ‘I mean your Nazi uniform’. He then snapped to attention and gave her the Nazi salute repeatedly! ‘Sieg heil.’ When he did not cease his strutting, heel clicking and offensive saluting we left. Later, Ursula told the press that he could have been prosecuted for criminal conduct had he done this in Germany.”
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“Being an old school punk/junkie I wish I had a buck for every bad thing I’ve ever heard said, written or depicted about people of my ‘ilk.’ Never mind all the verbal and physical assaults me and my friends had to endure back in the day from the supposedly ‘normal’ people. It goes with the territory called ‘freak.’ Get use to it. Wear it as a badge of experience.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial began October 11 in Los Angeles.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Arraigned on August 29.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff scheduled to be sentenced on Oct 28.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing scheduled November 17 to argue the arbitration motions.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through December 13.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Case settled ahead of scheduled Dec 6 trial.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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] Israel’s Ministry of Justice threatens to ‘dismantle’ Scientology’s Tel Aviv Ideal Org
[TWO years ago] Scientology chiro pleaded guilty to fraud, but we may get to see a sort of trial anyway
[THREE years ago] Thetan-tastic: Alan Arkin and Michael Douglas skewer Scientology on ‘The Kominsky Method’
[FOUR years ago] Scientology so desperate for Narconon patients, new offer drops all pretense of separation
[FIVE years ago] Ray Emmons, 1942-2017: Clearwater’s cop who sniffed out Scientology’s secrets
[SIX years ago] Talking with Tiponi Grey, who quit her Scientology job and announced it on YouTube
[SEVEN years ago] Troublemakers: The women who won’t keep quiet about Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Finally, Scientology has an answer for last year’s Super Bowl power outage
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Trust Issues: A Possible Garcia Legal Strategy?
[TEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology Price Increase!
[ELEVEN years ago] Mark Chauppetta, Private Eye Who Worked for Scientology at the time of the South Park Investigation
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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 2,831 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,336 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,886 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,876 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,767 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,072 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,942 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,047 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,520 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,836 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,402 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,321 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,489 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,069 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,331 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,367 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,082 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,647 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 962 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,137 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,688 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,819 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,157 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,012 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,131 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,487 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,790 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,896 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,294 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,170 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,753 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,248 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,502 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,611 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 28, 2022 at 09:00
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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
