We’re still going through the wreckage of the Danny Masterson Trial, which ended with a hung jury on November 30. And one thing that surprised us about the interview we did with Chris Shelton of the jury foreman, was the revelation that the jury had largely ignored the Scientology component of the case.
And it reminded us that Judge Charlaine Olmedo had not allowed the prosecution to bring in a Scientology expert, former Sea Org official Claire Headley, to explain Scientology’s policies to the jury. Would that have made a difference?
We decided to ask Claire herself about the trial and what she might have brought to it if she’d been allowed to testify.
Technology Cocktail
“The validation of Scientology and Dianetics has engrossed the time and attention of many auditors and myself. The aggregate validation programs engaged upon in the last four years have cost in excess of $200,000. It is not for nothing that we can say that today we practice the most validated science in the field of the mind and spirit that Earth has ever known.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1954
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Jeffrey Augustine and Mike Rinder
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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 Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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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 [14] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [15] Oct 24: Day Nine [16] Oct 25: Day Ten [17] Oct 27: Day Eleven [18] Oct 28: Day Twelve [19] Second week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [20] Halloween special [21] Nov 2: Day Thirteen [22] Nov 3: Day Fourteen [23] Nov 4: Day Fifteen [24] Third week in review [25] Nov 5, Saturday special [26] Nov 6, Sunday special [27] Nov 7, Day Sixteen [28] Lisa Marie Presley breaking news [29] Nov 8, Day Seventeen [30] Nov 9, Day Eighteen [31] Nov 10, Day Nineteen
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“Let’s take the ant kingdom. The ants have been granted beingness. The ants themselves are not a beingness — that is, an independent beingness, such as a thetan. And here we get an oddity; we get an oddity in behavior in terms of ants. You go around and trifle with an ant. As a thetan, you go around and you start pushing around an ant: put a beam through his head, short-circuit out some of the working parts, make him walk in small circles, and you immediately start getting this, the idea that there’s something someplace that is getting awfully mad at you. Funny, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 18, 1953
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“MISSION ACCOUNTS UK: COMMANDER HANA ELTRINGHAM and FELICE GREEN are very much welcomed back. They did a fine job straightening up accounts at WW, SH and Pubs. As an added bonus they found Pubs was owed about £300,000, nearly 3 times what it owes and that SH was owed over £90,000 and £50,000. SMERSH is noted as active in Edinburgh in the form of our being worked on to make us unpopular. Well, they can try. The Mission did a great and very long job. They are highly commended.” — The Commodore, December 18, 1968
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“Trust me, it might not be this life time, or perhaps the next, but this world WILL have decent, ethical, and legitimate orgs one day. Those that are left behind will eventually catch up. Independent Scientology makes more sense than any of these other superstitious religions. You’re right, we’re losing the war now because of the active suppression going on, but it won’t be forever.”
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2000: Marin News reported that a judge has refused Scientology’s request to hold Gerry Armstrong in contempt for speaking out against Scientology. “Church attorneys filed a contempt motion against Gerald Armstrong, a former Scientology archivist, for persistently violating a judge’s order in 1995 to stop criticizing the church and discussing his experiences as an employee there. As evidence, church attorneys submitted a sheaf of messages Armstrong had posted in Internet discussion groups between March 1998 and July of this year. The messages, most of which were posted on the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup, include bilious exchanges between church members and Armstrong – who refers to his former employer as the ‘Church of $cientology.’ But Judge Vernon Smith yesterday rejected the church’s motion for a contempt citation, saying the judge who issued the original order, Gary Thomas, is long retired, and the church had failed to explain why Smith himself should issue a contempt order. ‘The court has overwhelming evidence to hold him in contempt,’ protested Andrew Wilson, the church’s Sausalito-based attorney. ‘I’m not convinced of that,’ Smith said. But he continued the matter until next Wednesday, giving church attorneys a chance to file more briefs in support of their argument. Armstrong, who now lives in Chilliwack, British Columbia, was not present at the hearing. But reached by telephone yesterday, he described Smith’s action as ‘really cool.’ ‘I’m really glad that a judge has taken note of the fact that Scientology is not what they’re representing it to be,’ said Armstrong, 54. ‘This is an extraordinary time in my history.’ Armstrong, during an interview yesterday, did not deny writing the Internet messages. If anything, he said, the church understated his output. ‘My count was 2,289,’ he said. Armstrong also insists the 1986 agreement does not trump his First Amendment rights. ‘I settled my lawsuit against them for 12 and half years of lies and deceit and abuse,’ he said. ‘I did not settle with them to become a punching bag of the Church of Scientology.'”
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“I think it’s safe to say at this point in the proceedings that the reason things are so bad in the unchurch of Scientology aren’t due merely to Miscavige being dumb or incompetent. It’s obvious that he is a purposeful sadist who actively enjoys plotting new ways to torment his captive flock. He’s King Joffery, he’s Ivan the Terrible. He’s freaking nuts.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Status conference scheduled January 10, retrial scheduled March 27.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Plea deadline scheduled for December 16.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff scheduled to time served with three years supervised release, restitution of $9.7 million.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial hearing December 9.
— 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 November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— 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 February 7.
— 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] INSIDER: Scientology has been devastated by the pandemic and is coming apart at the seams
[TWO years ago] Oof: Jane Doe #1’s own attorneys flubbed and ID’d her and her IP address in court documents
[THREE years ago] Why the IRS will likely do nothing about Mormon and Scientology illegal slush funds
[FOUR years ago] Leah Remini asks ‘Where is Shelly’ as the Church of Scientology turns 65!
[FIVE years ago] When love triumphs over Scientology: A fairy tale of New York for the holidays
[SIX years ago] Oh look, Scientology started a blog, and it already won an award
[SEVEN years ago] Compton scam rehab clinic definitely a Church of Scientology operation, witnesses say
[EIGHT years ago] Rick Ross has a new book that will help you get someone out of Scientology
[NINE years ago] Happy Birthday, Church of Scientology!
[TEN years ago] Joel Sappell Finds Former Scientology Enforcer Marty Rathbun To Be a Reluctant Whistleblower
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: In the Sea Org at 18 and on Top of the World!
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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 2,882 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,387 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,937 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,927 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,818 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,123 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,993 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,098 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,571 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,887 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,453 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,372 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,540 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,120 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,382 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,418 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,133 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,698 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,013 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,188 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,739 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,870 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,208 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,063 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,182 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,538 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,841 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,947 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,345 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,221 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,804 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,299 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,553 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,662 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 18, 2022 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, 1995-2021 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
