One of the surprises to come out of the Danny Masterson trial was a photo of one of Scientology’s most elusive and notorious figures, a “master at arms” enforcer named Julian Swartz.
Leah Remini and Yashar Ali made the first known photo of Swartz available online this month, putting a face to stories we’ve reported about his strong-arm tactics to keep Scientology scandals under wraps, in particular a horrifying scandal at a Scientology day care, where Swartz convinced parents not to press charges against a teenager who had been molesting their children.
But Swartz was not the only Scientology enforcer who was unmasked during the Danny Masterson trial.
We pointed out at the time that the prosecution seemed to be doing a much better job during Masterson’s second trial of making use of visual displays, posting images of key figures to help the jury understand what Masterson was accused of.
We were stunned to see a photo of Swartz show up during the trial. And we were also impressed to see images of the husband-wife team who had told Jane Doe 3 she couldn’t use the word “rape,” and who punished her for coming forward about being attacked by Masterson.
They were identified as Chris and Miranda Scoggins, and their photos were shown in court. We now have copies of those photos and decided to share them with you.
Jane Doe 3 testified that she went to Miranda, an ethics officer at the Celebrity Centre to explain that Masterson had raped her in her sleep. But she said that Miranda immediately made her feel like she was being punished for reporting the incident.
“She explained to me there was no crime committed and she put me on an ethics program,” Jane Doe 3 testified. As part of that program, she was required to write about what had happened, but Miranda told her she couldn’t use the word “rape,” and that it wasn’t possible to rape someone who was your girlfriend. (Jane Doe 3 and Masterson were living together at the time.)
Also, as part of the ethics program, she was instructed also to meet with Miranda’s husband, “chaplain” Chris Scoggins. Jane Doe 3 said that it was Chris’s job to make her understand how dire the circumstances would be if she violated the rules and caused problems for Masterson. And he had her “demo’ these rules with small objects intended to show just how serious were the consequences she was facing.
She also testified that as part of the ethics program Chris and Miranda put her on, Jane Doe 3 had to find ways to make “amends” to Masterson, such as taking his car to be washed.
Miranda and Chris were dedicated to protecting a Scientology celebrity and punishing his rape victims.
We thought it was a good idea to make sure you knew what they looked like.
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Technology Cocktail
“I don’t know exactly how to get this across to you except to ask you to be brave squint up your eyes and plunge. I don’t appeal to reason. Only to faith at the moment. When you have a reality on this, nothing will shake it and you’ll no longer fail cases or fail in life. But, at the moment, it may not seem reasonable. So just try it, do it well and day will dawn at last.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1962
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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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“There is cyclical illness which is dictated in the various R6 implants. A fellow was forced to get sick at the age of five, followed multiples of five, and he’s supposed to get sick from this and from that, and from the other thing. Measles and, you know he’s supposed to have and that’s certain. They predict his health, in other words. When he’s fifty he’s supposed to something or other. What they’re trying to do is make a body cave in. See?” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 30, 1968
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“It was more dangerous to raise the stern anchor than it was to hope it held as it was holding. Rear view mirror into the past. We should have anchored on the other side of the little island day before yesterday. We’re sitting here held by my postulates and a stern anchor. If either let go we’d wreck our screws. Let this be a lesson in seamanship. The morale is anchor more safely when you can, not after you’re unsafely anchored.” — The Commodore September 30, 1970
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“Freezone is much less expensive. Average Class VIII charges between $100 and $200 an hour for auditing.”
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2000: Jeff Jacobsen reported a protest at the Clearwater Bank building this week. “Tonight we picketed the bank building on Cleveland and Ft. Harrison from about 6:30-7:30pm. There were 4 of us with 2 videocameras. Cleveland street was closed because of the arts festival from 9 to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. Since Cleveland is closed Co$ can’t drive their buses up to the cafeteria doors, so it looked like what they were doing was dropping people off behind the Coachman Building and then they would either walk through the Coachman Building or go through the alley right next to it. They tried to time the troops to cross Cleveland street while none of us were near Watterson Street (where the cafeteria entrance is). Finally us picketers just stood near Watterson so the Scientologists had no choice but to walk past our signs. We did not talk to the Scientologists but just let our signs do the talking.”
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“I realized this maybe six years ago when I first read about TR-Alice. I was gobsmacked at how obvious it was. I’ve read numerous examples of Hubbard having a laugh at his followers’ expense since then.”
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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] Dr. Eric Berg gaming YouTube? Ian Rafalko with more revelations about his Scientologist dad
[TWO years ago] Another Scientology OT dies of Covid, this time near the Florida ‘spiritual mecca’
[THREE years ago] Could Danny Masterson’s odd legal fight over his Hollywood house endanger his freedom?
[FOUR years ago] Scientology tried to sell ‘Daily Mail’ on story she was a sexual abuser, Leah Remini says
[FIVE years ago] Scientology going ‘Ideal’ with drug rehabs too, and will replace an ailing clinic
[SIX years ago] Never before seen: Video from the first ‘LRH Birthday’ aboard the Scientology ‘Freewinds’
[SEVEN years ago] When L. Ron Hubbard briefly let down his guard and admitted Scientology was all a con
[EIGHT years ago] JIM CARREY’S SCIENTOLOGIST GIRLFRIEND ON ‘SRD’ WHEN SHE KILLED HERSELF: FRIENDS
[NINE years ago] Does a judge’s order in the Garcia fraud lawsuit suggest trouble for Scientology?
[TEN years ago] Meet the New Editor of Scientology’s Propaganda Magazine, Freedom!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies!
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s SF Leaker Talks: We Ask Amy Scobee to Interpret
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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 3,168 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,683 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,233 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,223 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,104 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,408 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,279 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,384 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,831 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,173 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,739 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,658 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,825 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,407 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,668 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,704 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,420 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,984 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,299 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,474 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,025 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,156 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,494 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,349 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,468 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,824 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,127 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,233 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,631 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,507 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,072 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,585 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,839 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,948 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 30, 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
