TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Last week we created a firestorm when we published letters by Ashton Kutcher & Mila Kunis asking for leniency for Danny Masterson. We said then that there were more letters that were difficult to make out. We’ve now remedied that, and we can show you more appeals to the judge. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Meters are accurate. But sometimes people are sort of stupid.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1961
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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?
[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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman
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“Handling Security Checks in a society of this particular character, then, runs into a little bit of heavy weather. And you very often run into some heavy weather. Somebody’s sitting there and, good God, they’re the fellow who did it, you know, and what are you going to do as the auditor, you know?…What is your responsibility as an auditor? Well, it’s, your responsibility as an auditor is first and foremost as an auditor, is get the person out of it. You’re not the police force. Don’t you see? And then you actually are not honor bound from that point there on to be under a stamp and seal of total secrecy with regard to the fact that the First National Bank was robbed by Joe, you see. But don’t go calling up the police. They’re on the wrong road. Cops never get a society anyplace. Cops are a short-term proposition, strictly. The more cops, the more crime.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 13, 1961
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“We have so far sent back two FEBC graduates. W/O Owen Starkey to AOSHDK and Wayne Marples to NY. They both left in a hurry to save their orgs. Starkey has halted the GDS collapse and has most of them on a healthy climb. They both had a lot of beautiful things to say about Flag and its people.” — The Commodore, September 13, 1970
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“About 18 months ago, I began to wake up to the fact that I was in the Church of Scientology in my last lifetime. After more auditing and more mind expansion, I realized, ‘oh, maybe I am/was Clear.’ So, I came to believe I was Clear. Today, I don’t think I was Clear, but, I’m almost sure I did believe I was Clear in my last lifetime. In fact, I kind of see I reached OT2. As I said, I’m not sure, and I speculate that I had good auditing, but also bad auditing. I also was probably subjected to Black Scientology.”
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1997: In response to last week’s article in the St. Petersburg Times about Lisa McPherson, Scientology attorney Elliot Abelson wrote a letter to the editor, which was published this week. The letter attempted to cash in on the distrust of tabloid media following Lady Diana’s death in an auto accident. “While many tabloid media are currently undergoing some responsible self-examination, reporter Tom Tobin and the Times continue to exploit the tragic death of Lisa McPherson with relentless and sensational reporting of non-news. Lisa’s many friends and those who knew her and loved her would rather not have the last days of her life exploited and sensationalized by media. Unfortunately, the Times has no such scruples. It is intrusive and unnecessary reporting such as the Times has displayed that is the reason the reputation of the media is currently at a low ebb.”
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“It seems to me that narconon preys on folks out in the hinterland and down south where detoxes are few and far between and the people are less up on this kind of stuff.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentencing on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, first hearing set for Dec 4.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— 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 sentencing of Masterson on Sep 7. Next hearing set for Sept 26.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing Nov 6.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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: Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan says Rizza Islam is accused of ‘horrible charge’
[TWO years ago] Scientology sends out creepy letters to lure you back in, and other gems from our mailbag
[THREE years ago] What Scientologists are telling each other on social media right this very minute
[FOUR years ago] No, RadarOnline did not discover a new underground bunker at Scientology’s Gold Base
[FIVE years ago] How a Scientology-run business preyed on Silicon Valley icons in the name of ‘wellness’
[SIX years ago] Ford Greene responds to Marty Rathbun, and brings up a previous Scientology secret deal
[SEVEN years ago] Co-writer Dan Koon answers accusations about the accuracy of Ron Miscavige’s ‘Ruthless’
[EIGHT years ago] Paul Haggis, Lawrence Wright react to Alex Gibney’s Emmys sweep for ‘Going Clear’
[NINE years ago] Ryan Hamilton files 20th lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[TEN years ago] MONIQUE RATHBUN VS SCIENTOLOGY, DAY 2: Texas Showdown Shifts Gears
[TWELVE years ago] Marty Rathbun, Ex-Scientology Exec, Back from Germany: ‘The U.S. Media Has No Balls’
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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 3,151 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,666 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,216 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,206 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,087 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,391 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,262 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,367 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,814 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,156 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,722 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,641 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,808 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,390 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,651 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,687 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,403 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,967 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,282 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,457 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,008 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,139 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,477 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,332 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,451 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,807 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,110 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,216 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,614 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,490 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,055 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,568 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,822 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,931 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 13, 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
