Scientology’s attempt to get Danny Masterson out of prison: The full ‘amicus’ brief

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: On Saturday we told you the docket in Danny Masterson’s appeal indicated Scientology was still backing him in a big way by filing an amicus brief on his behalf. We have now received a copy of that brief from the court, and we know you’re going to want to see it in its entirety. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Some auditors ‘spook’ (leap off the road like a horse frightened by something blowing along) at the very thought of high or low TAs. This is because they haven’t got the TRs to handle a low TA nor the tech to handle a high one. Making a meter read falsely low with cream or falsely high with talcum powder or wiping
hands continually will not handle the pc’s CASE. That is what the auditor is there to do, not make his session look good! The funniest one I have ever heard was a Solo auditor who had high TA trouble. So he used to fill up a bathtub with scalding water, fill the bathroom full of clouds of steam and then sit in the bath, holding onto his electrodes ‘Solo auditing.’ It gave him a lower TA but it sure didn’t give him any case result. We maybe ought to have a contest as to who can come up with the most comical actual instances of falsifying meter reads.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980

 
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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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Source Code

“Recently I contacted some very interesting facsimiles of Captain Frank de Wolfe of the United States Army, who was wounded at Fort Donelson in 1862. You may think I am talking about a past death; I am not. I am talking about a sympathy facsimile picked up when I was about a year and a half old, evidently, on the death of my great-grandfather. I almost killed myself. I started running out a lot of emotional curves and life began to look more and more interesting, and then when I went to get up out of the chair I couldn’t get up. I wondered what this was all about so I began to run some more emotional curves, and then I suddenly recalled that my great-grandfather had a black cane with a solid gold dog’s head. It was a great little gimmick, this solid gold dog’s head. The facsimile which I had just finished running out was the facsimile of the death of my dog when I was 14, which tied in to the cane with the dog’s head, which was the death of my great-grandfather that occurred while I was still sick with pneumonia when about a year and a half old. Evidently my legs from the waist down had been out of valence most of my life.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 10, 1951

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“So evidently there’s a grade of ‘animal’ according to the very best professors. Looking it over, modern ‘education’ and all, we then have the job of moving people up on this course action with which there would be wide agreement due to teachings in universities. Animal + Technique Zed = Human Being + Dianetics to Grade IV = Homo Novis + Power, R6EW and CC = Clear + OT grades to OT VII = Operating Thetan + what research I’m now doing equals ( ). There are a lot of in betweens and a lot of tech but those are the major points.” — The Commodore, December 10, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“There was another time when I perceived a reptile and it was this disgusting staff member, he was 1.1, and I think I was just looking at him and I got this reptile idea in my head, and I got the idea he was one. He gave me a bad look once after I mentioned I had just seen a UFO, which was the first one I’d ever seen and it was cool and I was excited and he shot me this evil little nasty look. He was totally in a fake PR valence all the time, and guess what, gosh this keeps getting better, he was related to Mike Rinder! Yes that family has bad DNA, maybe this special telepathic connection DNA. Mike Rinder was running around assisting Miscavige with the takeover of Scientology and now he trashes all of Scientology, his life so far as been assisting the enslavers, he is not good for humanity.”

 
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Past is Prologue

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, Arnie Lerma, 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'” F0rom 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.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Miscavige is a crime boss. If you’re a crime boss or a loan shark you can’t let somebody disrespect you or not pay back a loan, you have to make an example out of them to keep the rest of the underlings in line. This is more important than public perception.”

 
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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. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 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 December 1.

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 was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— 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 Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— 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.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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] Scientology delays again in Whitney Mills case, hinting they expect to be off the hook
[TWO years ago] Today at the Daily Beast: What Valerie Haney’s Scientology ‘arbitration’ was really like
[FOUR years ago] Who will cry for ‘fallen artists’ like Elvis and Hemingway if not Scientology?
[FIVE years ago] Danny Masterson accusers: Scientology’s illegal behavior shouldn’t count as ‘commerce’
[SIX years ago] George Gascón goes there: Elect him Los Angeles D.A., and Danny Masterson gets a fresh look
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology school sinks to new low, but the federal dollars keep pouring in
[EIGHT years ago] A close up look at how human rights abuser Scientology is touting human rights as a front
[NINE years ago] The way to break free from Scientology’s mind trap: Admit to yourself that you’re gullible
[TEN years ago] DOX: Woman sues Pasadena company for forcing Scientology on her
[ELEVEN years ago] Marc Headley responds to sliming Scientology gave him at the ‘International Business Times’
[TWELVE years ago] The big reveal: What you actually learn on Scientology’s Operating Thetan Level Three
[THIRTEEN years ago] DOX: Autopsy Report of Scientology President’s Son, Alexander Jentzsch

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 10, 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, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), 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, 20 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…

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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

 

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Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone