TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Last time we checked on Lafayette Ronald Hubbard — a/k/a LRH 2.0, the former California prison inmate who says he’s the returned Scientology founder — he was complaining to followers about a toothache. Now, we have another update from the jail where he’s been sitting since 2021. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“All great pieces of art have this one factor in common. First of all, before one looks at the faces on the canvas or hears the meaning of the song, there is the TECHNICAL EXPERTISE there adequate to produce an emotional impact. Before one adds message or meaning, there is this TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. TECHNICAL EXPERTISE is composed of all the little and large bits of technique known to the skilled painter, musician, actor, any artist. He adds these things together in his basic presentation. He knows what he is doing. And how to do it. And then to this he adds his message.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
——————–
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 [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
——————–
“You should have things which are motion sources in there. The level of truth of that universe ought to be good. You would BE faith in that universe; or your mock-ups, as far as faith is concerned, you would probably rely on a mock-up a heck of a lot quicker than you’d ever rely on a piece of MEST. I mean that seriously. You’d just rely on the mock-up. That’s not bad; if you can create a Cadillac which can outrun Cadillacs, I think you’d depend upon your Cadillac. Get the idea? But if you were really up at the top of the mock-up curve, you’ve made a Cadillac, you would drive your Cadillac much in preference to a Cadillac. You get the idea? It sounds strange, it sounds peculiar, but if you were doing that, and you really set out to make a Cadillac, yours would be a better Cadillac, for you.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 11, 1952
——————–
“I’ve decided to release OT VII when SMERSH is vanquished and things are safe for Scientology over the world.” — The Commodore, December 11, 1968
——————–
“‘There are reports of euphoria in the financial markets and elsewhere over the arrival of the vaccines.’ LOL! I was going to say that ‘things are as bad’ that now it seems plausible that the ‘fake’ LRH issue about OT 8 seems to be true. Namely that wogs and Scienos (below OT 8) are genetically manipulated so that they now are being controlled by telepathy from the Marcabians. But apparently things are far worse than that! LOL! LRH was Right! ‘Democracy’ for these R6 humanoids is worse than democracy on a cage of monkeys! The cage of monkeys won’t kill themselves with ‘democracy,’ but R6ers with ‘democracy’ will make sure nobody is left alive! Hurry up and do your Bridge!”
1997: Several of the Clearwater protesters had Scientology flyers and/or pickets at their homes during their time away. Dennis Erlich, Deana Holmes, Rod Keller, Bob Minton, Ron Newman and Grady Ward received very similar flyers. From Dennis Erlich: “I returned home from Clearwater to find that the scienos had picketed my home and spread the same hateful leaflet around the neighborhood that they did with Bob Minton. Same wording, exactly, only with my name. ‘THE FACE OF RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY – YOUR NEIGHBOR, DENNIS ERLICH IS NOT ALL THAT HE SEEMS – THIS WEEKEND HE IS LEADING A KKK-STYLE RALLY AGAINST PEACEFUL MEMBERS OF A RELIGION – WHEN HE’S NOT STIRRING UP HATRED IN THE STREETS, ERLICH IS POISONING THE INTERNET BY FILLING IT FULL OF RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY AND INTOLERANCE – ERLICH’S HATRED PUTS FAMILIES AT RISK – NEXT TIME YOU SEE THIS MAN, RECOGNIZE THE FACE OF RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY'” From Deana Holmes: “On Monday I called over to the org and asked to speak to the DSA. She was the one who answered the phone, and she announced herself as ‘Judy, holding DSA’. I repeated who I was and asked if they had picketed my home on Friday. She said they had, and stated that it was a First Amendment right to picket. I stated that in SLC, you need to have a permit to picket a private residence. She claimed that they did. I tried to find out how many people were out there and what was on the signs, but she wouldn’t tell me, she told me to ask my neighbors as they had seen the signs.” From Grady Ward: “My wife Felicity reported to me this evening that five scientology picketers from San Francisco picketed our home at 3449 Martha Ct. in Arcata, California Saturday from 1 to 4 pm. The two adults, teenager, and children carried placards accusing me of being an ‘Internet pervert’ and ‘Religious bigot.’ Humorously enough a neighbor reported today that he saw the adult pay money to three of the kids before the kids took off on their own and the adults drove off in a van. The neighbor also said that the three kids in question were leaning on their signs, holding them upside down and generally seeming not to have very much heart in sending out the cult’s hate message.”
——————–
“Thing is he knows that if Lou called up a restaurant or a movie theater and said ‘Mr. Miscavige would like to visit your establishment, could you please close for the evening to accommodate this,’ they would respond ‘Who?’ His frail ego couldn’t handle this. That’s why the only time he goes out is when he’s with Cruise.”
——————–
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, 2023. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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 January 13, 2025.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal.
— 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. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Breathe easy, space cadet: Your Scientology holiday shopping guide has arrived!
[TWO years ago] VIDEO: This right here is why Scientology is going to clear the planet, you doubters
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s legendary ‘Liability Cruise,’ including color photos, like it was yesterday
[FOUR years ago] VALERIE HANEY DENIED AGAIN: State supreme court won’t hear case
[FIVE years ago] LEAH REMINI: ‘Jackie Lacey, you have forgotten what side you are on’
[SIX years ago] Tonight, Leah Remini examines her own role in the bizarre Scientology – Nation of Islam dance
[SEVEN years ago] DOX: An inside look at how Scientology gets what it wants at ‘Ideal Org’ events
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology: Not very effective in Washington politics, but it tries, tries again
[NINE years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s notion of ‘case gain,’ and how it reinforces the prison of belief
[TEN years ago] The questioner: Scientology brings in its legal ringer for a Florida showdown
[ELEVEN years ago] TEXAS SKIRMISH: Mike Bennitt is on the scene as Monique Rathbun’s lawsuit is back in court
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,110 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,605 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,120 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,670 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,660 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,046 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,541 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,845 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,716 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,268 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,609 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,176 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,095 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,263 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,845 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,105 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,141 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,857 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,421 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,736 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,911 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,593 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,930 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,784 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,899 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,261 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,564 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,670 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,068 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,944 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,509 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,020 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,276 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,384 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on December 11, 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
