TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’ve been writing about Joy Villa for more than ten years, when she began appearing in Scientology magazines as one of its up-and-coming celebrities. On May 14, Joy went public with her defection from the church. And now, with help from Alex Barnes-Ross, we’re going to be talking to her during a live video today starting at 11 am Eastern. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Where rock slammers have been undermining the tech and it is not fully known or used or is altered into unworkability one cannot expect Confessionals to be properly done or Expanded Dianetics to be known and properly applied. The joker is advertising his symptoms. He is also advertising an area of the org where there is enturbulation and down statistics as well as staff members being victimized. Therefore this is an administrative and technical indicator which cannot be overlooked and should be followed up.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1977
——————–
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
——————–
“Now, you’re a registrar and somebody is coming in, or you’re signing up PCs. (All of you have to wear a registrar’s hat at one time or another.) And you’re trying to get somebody to get some auditing, you’re a registrar, see? And there you are one fine day with a yow-yow-yow and a scream-scream-scream standing in front of your face: Seventy-five hours of auditing have been delivered — he feels terrible! He says, ‘Oh, I could kill everybody in the place,’ and he ought to go out and sue everybody, and he’s going to inform the government that so on and so on and so on and so on-yap, yap, yap, you never hear such a thing. Don’t worry too much about the threats, because the person totally lacks direction. Person will go halfway down the steps and change his mind and do something else, don’t you see? They’re incapable of carrying forward a program that has any cohesion or direction, see.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 28, 1963
——————–
“GOOD NEWS: The Governor’s Office of Calif is commending us for the Narco-non and Drug Abuse Campaigns and our effectiveness in this field. This is a second official one only days apart evidently. Also the Gov of Calif’s son is reported planning to join the SO.” — The Commodore, May 28, 1970
——————–
“I’ve had most of this stuff, and it’s broadly all there. Remote viewing I do when I’m in the body, otherwise I go there in person, i.e., in spirit. I just go. I don’t pass through space or cross time or any of that stuff. It’s like I want to be somewhere I’m there. And yes, all that other bullshit, essentially tech below Buddha, isn’t going to do shit except make you feel a bit better. You’re not going to start to really know until you do PDC and the OT levels. Not that you couldn’t run into bits of it on other auditing, but no one on the Grades is going to run into this stuff by accident. It’s impossible.”
1997: Grady Ward reported this week that Scientology has stepped up efforts to discredit him, this time with Dead Agent packs sent to his home town of Arcata, California. “I was informed by Rusty Stoob that the scientologists have launched an ad hominem attack upon me and my children, Adrian and Isaiah, over the internet, purportedly from one ‘Michelle Janney’ of El Segundo, California. The letter accuses me of writing ‘pornography’ and suggests that I am a danger to my children. A neighbor whose daughter attend Pacific Union had the pleasure of seeing the Arcata Police Department escort a private investigator who was ‘staking’ out our Vassaide neighborhood a few weeks ago.”
——————–
“I’m from S.F. and the Jonestown massacre happened on November 18, 1978 and the Moscone/Milk assassinations happened on November 27, 1978. So yeah, it was definitely a very strange and stressful time to be living in Frisco. It seemed like Armageddon. My father worked with a guy named Fred Lewis who lost 27 relatives at Jonestown. As far as a Jonestown-like event happening at Gold Base, I find it doubtful, but if the ‘perfect storm’ of mishaps, misadventures, miscommunications took place, like at Waco, it’s possible. I think Miscavige is more the mob boss type than the fanatical cult leader type. That’s a major factor.”
——————–
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. DA’s response to appeal brief due June 13.
— ‘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 June 16.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Sentenced to 7 years in prison.
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. Leah’s appeal brief due June 3.
— 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. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
——————–
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] Ready to sign your life away, pilgrim? Get a load of this Scientology staff contract
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s latest fundraising brainstorm: Braveheart and big swords!
[THREE years ago] Chris Shelton interviews Katherine Olson, who only escaped Scientology’s Sea Org last year
[FOUR years ago] Ten Days That Shook The (Scientology) World: Dave and Danny’s very bad predicament
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s hammy Grant Cardone and the political operator: A significant connection?
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s happy promotions can’t hide the cancer eating away at its core
[SEVEN years ago] Joy Villa makes it back to the White House, but on a sour note
[EIGHT years ago] Child deaths at a pop concert turn into the latest chance for Scientology to spread its propaganda
[NINE years ago] Will Scientology’s celebrities heed the call and show up for today’s big media center opening?
[TEN years ago] Former Scientologist found guilty of defrauding other exes — ALSO: 1998 film re-release
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s drug rehab system hit with tenth federal fraud lawsuit by Las Vegas attorney
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Gets Emotional: Claire Headley on the Tone Scale
——————–
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.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,278 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,773 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,288 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,838 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,828 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,214 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,709 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,013 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,882 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,436 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,777 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,344 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,263 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,431 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,013 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,272 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,309 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,025 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,589 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,904 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,079 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,761 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,098 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,952 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,067 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,429 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,838 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,234 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,112 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,677 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,188 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,444 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,552 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on May 28, 2025 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
