TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We know you may have read Scientology success stories in the past. But we were curious to see what you get out of this latest glowing testimonial from the UK headquarters, Saint Hill Manor, that was forwarded to us by Apostate Alex. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The technology we have WORKS to definite positive predictable results. Results are obtained if the auditor has honestly studied and understood his
materials and honestly applies them. Falsifying study leads to falsifying meters and this gives bad results on pcs. HONEST use of the materials and the meter gives an honest result. One who does not know his materials and who cannot do his drills then thinks he has to make a meter cheat. HONEST use of the meter by an HONEST auditor is the route to GOOD RESULTS.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
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Jon Atack on Scientology
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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 [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“All right now, let’s look at an engram. An engram isn’t very serious if somebody walks up and steps on your toes and says, ‘You skunk.’ That’s not very serious because there’s not very much chaos there into which to put a stable datum. But if this individual walked up to you from behind, slugged you over the head, kicked you in the ribs, wound you up in the hospital, but somewhere in the midst of all of this he said, ‘You’re a skunk,’ you’d probably start to smell like one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 14, 1955
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“There’s a need for the FEBC like the Sahara needs water. Public demand is high. The contemporary staffs don’t really know how to give service or handle. Well, we’ll make it anyway. A lot of good guys out there. At least we know exactly where we’re going and exactly what to do to get there. Maybe we’re the only ones on Earth who do.” — The Commodore, September 14, 1970
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“At some point (as soon as possible) we need a central organization as Ron envisioned it. I love all his ethics, tech and admin. The only time I saw it not work was when it was misapplied or abused. I completely see Scientology as the solution to this planet and it won’t happen without a large central organization. Period. We just have to get better at the 3D.”
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2000: Mark Bunker posted an update on the Scientologist who attacked him with a hammer during a video assignment in Clearwater, Florida. “Richard Barnard is now serving a one year jail term in Key West for skipping bail on a cocaine trafficking charge. He lied about his identity to the police at the scene and later when Sgt. Zegzdren went to do a follow up report. The first officer at the scene of the attack, Terrance Kelly, was ordered to do an investigation of the hammer incident but he never even asked Barnard for an I.D. When Sgt. Zegzdren arrested Barnard weeks later, Barnard told him that Scientology had offered to provide him an attorney. A friend of Barnard’s also assured him that he had nothing to worry about since 85% of the Clearwater police force are Scientologists. Zegzdren told him he thought that number was a little high. Barnard was working for Joe Duncanson, a member of the OT Committee.”
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“A question that has crossed my mind in the past is, if someone cynically creates a religion/spiritual movement for their own personal gain, but its followers truly believe in it, does one negate the other?”
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. Sentenced to 30 years to life 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. Next pretrial hearing May 31, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— 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] Greek church calls BS on Scientology: Why doesn’t this happen more often?
[TWO years ago] Now with no restrictions: Our podcast series on the Scientology docuseries that never aired
[THREE years ago] Danny Masterson’s civil attorney adds Prince Andrew as a client and Twitter loses its mind
[FOUR years ago] SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS, Episode 4: Tom Cruise’s dirty plot against publicist Pat Kingsley
[FIVE years ago] Mark ‘Wise Beard Man’ Bunker: His Scientology-protesting past and political future
[SIX years ago] Jesse Prince, witness to Scientology’s ugliest behavior, spills it all in new book
[SEVEN years ago] Is Ohio’s newest legislator a Scientologist? ‘I had him on the cans,’ says our man in Cincy
[EIGHT years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s secret base where David Miscavige keeps wife out of sight
[NINE years ago] Another rare Scientology video leaks, and this time we see its long vanished president
[TEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Smile while you write that check, pardner!
[ELEVEN years ago] THE TEXAS POST-GAME REPORT: Scientology, Monique Rathbun, and Judge Dib Waldrip
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,023 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,518 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,033 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,583 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,573 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 4,959 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,454 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,758 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,629 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,181 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,522 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,089 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,008 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,176 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,758 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,018 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,054 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,770 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,334 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,649 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,824 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,375 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,506 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,844 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,697 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,818 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,174 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,477 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,583 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,981 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,857 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,422 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,935 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,189 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,297 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 14, 2024 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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
