TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Geoff Levin has a treat for us on Christmas Eve — another song! And this time about the smears Scientology has been aiming at Alex Barnes-Ross, who had another monster year. Check out the tune and the lyrics, and enjoy your holiday! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“While psychiatric cases could possibly benefit from the Purification Rundown, it would have to be administered under clinical conditions and medical supervision and at the signed responsibility of those responsible for the case. Such cases could not be included in the general normal run of persons undergoing the Purification Rundown. This is issued not because of any inability to help such persons, but because of the fact that such persons are often, after psychiatric treatment, in a state of risk to themselves, to others and to their environments.” — 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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“You’ll find that there’s a hollow spot in back of the body. And if you will let one of those hollow spots — at least, there’s at least one — if you’ll let it say ‘hello’ backwards, you know, have a spot in back of the body say ‘hello’ backwards, you will discover some of the more interesting spaces. You get why that is? A thetan has always come in on the body on the back, you see, and nobody has ever said ‘hello’ to him. There’s quite often a machine pulled in there, which is one of the more interesting things you run into with this process. Big, big juicy machine with valves, tubes, endless belts and every other thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 24, 1954
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“There has never been any order permitting mail to be taken directly to the post office by individuals. I would like to find out who started this. It is illegal to send mail any other way than via the Dept of Comm.” — N. Jessup, CS-1, December 24, 1968
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“Disconnection is an individual’s choice. Yes, Ethics might encourage someone to do it, but at the end of the day it’s the persons who do it, who are to accept responsibility for it and not blame the church with the ‘following orders’ excuse. I don’t blame the church when my friends in the church disconnected from me. I blame them and their inability to confront the truth, and also just that they were happy with the church and I’m cool with that, it was their personal decision to disconnect from me, not the church’s. But I just don’t like it when people blame big organizations for actions they do. For example, it wasn’t Hitler’s fault for the holocaust, it was the SS soldiers who did it. They believed in the cause, they wanted to do it, they thought what they were doing was right, they should take responsibility for it and should be blamed for it.”
1997: The Sonora, California Union Democrat reports that Scientology is developing an abandoned mine there for use as a storage vault. “The Church of Spiritual Technology has been blasting at the Lady Washington Mine, 18749 First Avenue, for several weeks and recently finished gunniting about 108 feet of tunnel. Plans filed with the Tuolumne County Building Department show a 15-foot-wide, 250-foot-long-tunnel. The first 98 feet from the entrance are improved, with a 10.5-foot domed ceiling. At the end of the 98 feet is a 10-foot-long storage room. The plans show the rest of the tunnel to be unimproved. The value of the finished project, according to the building permit, is $210,000. The church has also applied for a permit to build a generator building, but that permit has not yet been approved. The Lady Washington Mine and two houses on 26.23 acres were purchased in 1988 by William and Donna Daniels. They bought six parcels in all. Part of the land was sold by William Trimmer, and the rest by Drew Reeves. In 1988, the Daniels gave the property to Norman Starkey, trustee of ‘Author’s Family Trust.’ Starkey gave the property to the Church of Spiritual Technology in 1993.”
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“‘If all Scientologists were John Travolta clones, Scientology would be a good deal.’ I’m not sure the Massage Association of America would agree with you on that one, Jimmy.”
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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. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences currently in Pinellas County Jail. Next pretrial court hearing set for Dec 16.
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 respondent’s brief is due January 12.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Awaiting a court hearing date.
— 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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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] For Christmas Eve, we have Scientology videos full of cheer
[TWO years ago] Here they are, the wealthy whales keeping Scientology afloat into 2024!
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: How Tory Christman saved Rosie O’Donnell from joining Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Feds suing ‘stem cell’ scammers for preying on the elderly. Oh, and they’re Scientologists.
[FIVE years ago] Whoops. Letter shows Scientology gave Jane Doe #1 permission to sue Danny Masterson in 2004
[SIX years ago] Scientology is denied an emergency hearing, but here is its ‘arbitration’ motion
[SEVEN years ago] We got a correspondent into Scientology’s New Year’s Event Saturday in Los Angeles
[EIGHT years ago] Year in review: In April, Dee Findlay delivered a truth bomb to Scientology in its spiritual mecca
[NINE years ago] A Christmas Eve treat: Our man Down Under on Scientology’s antipodean troubles in 2016
[TEN years ago] Release the hounds! Scientology suddenly getting more aggressive with media: Report
[ELEVEN years ago] As Luka Magnotta is convicted, questions about his Scientology involvement remain
[TWELVE years ago] The Underground Bunker Year-in-Review starts today: A January for the ages!
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s 2012 in Review: Springtime for Miscavige
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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 3,487 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,991 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,497 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,047 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,037 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,423 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,918 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,222 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,873 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,091 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,645 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,986 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,557 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,473 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,640 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,222 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,481 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,233 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,798 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,113 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,288 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,970 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,307 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,160 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,276 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,638 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,049 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,437 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,321 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,886 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,397 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,657 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,761 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 24, 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…
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
