Jane Doe 3 once again provided devastating testimony about what it was like to be in a relationship with That ’70s Show actor Danny Masterson at his retrial in Los Angeles yesterday, describing in detail incidents of abuse and sexual assault. And what a difference it was not only that she led off the witness testimony this time, but also that Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller’s questions led her into so much Scientology content.
Judge Charlaine Olmedo is allowing Mueller much freer rein this time when it comes to the Scientology content, and our readers really seem to be noticing it.
At one point, defense attorney Shawn Holley objected to Jane Doe 3’s description of Scientology policies, and Judge Olmedo responded by quoting from her March 28 ruling at length. (We reported on that ruling here.) Judge Olmedo made it plain: The jury is going to hear a lot more about Scientology this time around.
Also, we noticed that Mueller seems to be doing a better job anticipating where attacks from the defense are going to come from. Did you catch, for example, that Mueller asked Jane Doe 3 if she had mentioned the November 2001 sexual assault to both Miranda and Chris Scoggins, the ethics officer and chaplain at the Celebrity Centre? Jane Doe 3 said she had.
The defense last time made much of the fact that Jane Doe 3’s eventual reporting to the police was about the December 2001 unconscious sodomy, not the November 2001 attack which is the charged incident in this trial. So it seems significant that Jane Doe 3 has now testified that she told both of those Scientology officials about the November 2001 incident. Would the defense dare to bring down those two Scientology officials to testify otherwise? That seems like a pretty bold challenge by the prosecution.
Today, we expect that Mueller will finish up the direct examination of Jane Doe 3 by taking her through another trouble source for the prosecution: Jane Doe 3’s post-incident contacts with Masterson. We know the previous jury had an issue with this: Why would a rape victim continue to have contact with her attacker, and even have sex with him? The prosecution’s expert witness last time, Dr. Mindy Mechanic, explained that this was completely consistent with research about women who are attacked by men they know or men they have been in a relationship with. But the jury last time largely ignored her testimony.
So we’ll be interested to see how Mueller addresses those issues in this morning’s session. Then, Shawn Holley will begin her cross-examination of Jane Doe 3, who has already given some indication that she’s ready for a fight. Yesterday, when Holley made an objection to something Jane Doe 3 had said, calling it speculation, Jane Doe 3 came back aggressively with statement that there was no speculation involved, and said that Holley’s objection had angered her.
Jane Doe 3, it appears, is up for the challenge.
Once again, our reports will be coming at you from the courthouse, so keep an eye on your inboxes!
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Technology Cocktail
“The whole subject of death has been one of the more mysterious subjects to Man and it has only been in Scientology itself, and not in Dianetics, that the mechanisms of death have been thoroughly understood. When I say thoroughly understood I mean, of course, only the mechanisms. We know a great deal about death and we are actually the first people on this
planet that do. This is one of the larger wins of Scientology.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958
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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.
THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[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
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney
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“That which men fear, they become. That’s a cinch. That which men resist, they become. Now, you know the Christian idea of turn the other cheek? Well, let’s get a comparable idea in Scientology. Not comparing Scientology to Christianity, but let’s get the comparable idea. The Christian idea of turn the other cheek had a little truth in it. Let’s get the comparable idea, and that is assume the other viewpoint. No more vicious and horrible person could possibly be alive than one who is willing to assume any viewpoint whatsoever. The MEST universe has rigged up more fairy tales to condemn people who would do this….You see, the MEST universe really wouldn’t be here at all unless people didn’t object to shifting viewpoints. People insist continually on a persistent viewpoint. They say you must have the same viewpoint over and over, day after day, year after year, century after century, and if they could enforce it they would put you into solid concrete and give you just the one viewpoint at the center of the solid concrete and say, ‘There you are and you had certainly better stay there or we’ll get impatient with you.’ You can’t control anybody who won’t assume the same viewpoint continuously.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 26, 1954
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“GOOD NEWS: With the return of 3 Missionaires a flood of good news was brought. The US Court of Appeals fired back and refused the FDA petition for a re-hearing in the meter case. So that is definitely ended. John McMasters has been touring with huge successes in the Western US and Hawaii and has been seeing many wigs in higher favourable interviews and has been on many national TV shows in the US all very well done. He has been highly commended and his mission ordered to be reinforced. We have a lovely new base all bought. We have been invited to participate in a beachhead. Plans are afoot from a new active group to open up Latin America. They already have a fine beachhead secured.” — The Commodore, April 26, 1969
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“L. Ron Hubbard was right: Christianity is today an Illuminati trap. The hearth of Judaism and Christianity, Jerusalem, is today the house of the Illuminati. ‘Biblical prophecy’ is under the control of the New World Order. According to Capt Bill Robertson of the Freezone, the auditing research indicates that the Illuminati founder, Adam Weshaupt, is the chap that has sunk planet Earth in disaster and chaos since 70 million years ago. So Illuminati disclosure is the very truth.”
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1997: The St. Petersburg Times published the results of a police survey on the problems of downtown Clearwater. Scientology was rated as worse than prostitutes. The top six responses listed as the most important issues were: transients, traffic, drugs, parking, Scientologists and prostitutes. Other concerns included: redevelopment, traffic, safety, vacant buildings, opening more shops, landscaping and the general cleanliness of downtown. Many of the comments were complimentary toward police. In others, someone suggested merchants have a sticker to tell people they aren’t Scientologists, while someone else said having the Church of Scientology downtown helps reduce crime.”
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“If it weren’t for the celebrities, David Miscavige would have less name recognition than Marshall Applewhite or whoever is running the Raelians.
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Retrial scheduled, jury selection begins March 29. Next pretrial hearing: Feb 16.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing Feb 13.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next status conference Feb 13.
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: March 15, 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.
— 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] AUDIO LEAK: Scientology leader David Miscavige announces ‘Golden Age of Admin’
[TWO years ago] Scientology is not a cult: The reasoning of an OT 3 Scientologist
[THREE years ago] Scientology shows that if government gives it even an inch, it tries to take over like a virus
[FOUR years ago] Scientology, breaking bad: Signs of desperation here and abroad
[FIVE years ago] Kim Poff, finally free to speak: ‘I want this story out. I want people to know what Narconon did.’
[SIX years ago] Scientology retaliates against Clearwater land deal by trying to shiv a beloved dolphin
[SEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY LEADER DAVID MISCAVIGE THREATENS TO SUE FATHER OVER BOOK
[EIGHT years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Secretly taped briefing uncovers precarious state of Scientology right now
[NINE years ago] Selling out, and other strange side-effects of Scientology watching
[TEN years ago] RAID ON SCIENTOLOGY’S DRUG REHAB CENTER IN ATLANTA
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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 3,011 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,516 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,066 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,056 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,947 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,251 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,122 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,227 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,674 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,016 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,582 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,501 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,669 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,250 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,511 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,547 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,263 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,827 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,142 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,317 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,868 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,999 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,337 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,192 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,311 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,667 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,970 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,076 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,474 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,350 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,933 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,428 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,682 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,791 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 26, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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
