TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Former London Scientology staffer Alex Barnes-Ross has been keeping us current on the church’s efforts to get a law passed that would ban protesting at its UK headquarters. Now, he’s asking for your input as the local government asks protesters to abide by a set of protocols. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“I have been engaged for some months now in a round-up of out tech issues. And I have found, I am sorry to say, that mice have been gnawing at the pillars of the Bridge, putting up traffic barriers and false detour signs. I have been finding serious out tech issues and correcting them. Whether because of misunderstood words (the commonest cause of out tech alterations) or other reasons, there have been a staggering number of tech sectors that have been corrupted by issues by others that alter-ised.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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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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“How about the big boy who becomes the big boy, and he’s been a local boy in some town, and all of a sudden he becomes a big boy. And he’s highly powerful on Wall Street. And he never again speaks to any of his friends in the old home town. Jesus, those people resent that. That is so much the matter of the thing that I can tell you personally that it’s almost impossible to speak to them. That is to say, if you’ve been in an area where you’ve been very well known and you suddenly become, oh, you might say, become a celebrity or something like that, these people won’t believe that you want to talk to them, you see? They’re so used to having the formula violated. You get the idea?” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 25, 1965
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“TO ALL ABOARD: (1) Anyone who makes any shuffle, bang, clatter — ANY NOISE — while the Commodore is IN SESSION will get NO AUDITING themselves for 3 months. (2) For FEBC’s — they lose a week’s stats. (3) The Commodore’s Messengers are keeping a list of these people and will turn the list in to D of P as well as a copy for Dir I&R. If one isn’t considerate enough to let the Commodore audit — one doesn’t deserve it himself. (4) If the Port Prom deck is roped off — it is for a PURPOSE — don’t go walking under the rope. IT IS OUT OF BOUNDS! (5) The radio room is OUT OF BOUNDS when LRH is IN SESSION too. (6) If the A & B Deck ladies heads are closed off with a sign saying ‘LRH IN SESSION NO ENTRY’ you don’t walk under the rope — go somewhere else!” — Msm Terri Gillham, Commodore’s Messenger, May 25, 1971
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“I always had a lot of enturbulative mass in my space, but knew I was a really big Thetan. I’ve had almost no auditing but there are a couple of totally kick ass processes on the First American and I did them both and got so blown out I was able to change the weather and almost anything I would postulate would come to me magically, and many other Godlike OT powers that many piss and moan that they were never able to achieve. All that’s wrong with us is that we need to blow out all the mass and circuitry and then we are able to do pretty much anything, even those things that require study or a normal person, because you know it all — it’s up at Knowingness. I ran that process they do on the E-Meter to discover how long we’ve been in this universe – and I couldn’t possibly, possibly have been here longer than 2,000 years, I thought. Since I remembered about five Whole Track incidents without any auditing and even remembered being in native state before I came here. I think it’s that same ACC where LRH says that most people have been here 74 or 76 trillion years. He says he doesn’t know what they’re using for years, maybe just the swing of a planet around its star (which could all be different.) He says the least amount of time person has been here is 3,000 years. That’s when I recounted each lifetime being about 100 years and couldn’t possibly imagine being here more than 20. Then I went to Marty’s blog sometime after that and some guy said is only been here for 2400 years – I thought, OK so maybe that’s an average LRH gave or maybe he doesn’t know EVERYTHING.”
2001: The Los Angeles Times reported that investors in Reed Slatkin’s investment fund are unlikely to get back much of their money. “Investors who gave money to fallen investment manager Reed E. Slatkin already are looking for ways to recoup their expected losses through lawsuits – but they’re finding few obvious targets, investor attorneys said. Among the possibilities: a handful of banks that acted as custodians for individual retirement account and 401(k) funds invested by Slatkin; financial professionals who introduced clients to Slatkin, who wasn’t registered as an investment advisor; and even fellow investors who received principal and interest payments from Slatkin in recent years. Among his more than 500 clients nationwide were Internet executives, Hollywood celebrities, socialites and fellow Scientologists. The SEC, which won a court order freezing Slatkin’s assets May 11, said it has been unable to locate the Swiss bank accounts Slatkin said he used to trade stocks, or the financial advisory firm Slatkin said he used to facilitate the trades. Those who recommended Slatkin to others could be targeted for lawsuits as well. Many investors who gave money to Slatkin said in interviews that they met him through mutual friends who bragged about the returns Slatkin was making for them. Some investor attorneys say it’s possible that those later investors will sue the earlier investors, arguing the earlier investors duped them. ‘Everybody’s going to turn against each other,’ predicted one investor attorney, who also asked to remain anonymous.”
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“There is plenty room around here for the J&D’s as well as the ‘Herberts’ and if people cross way over the line they usually get their asses straightened out by both sides.”
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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 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.
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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] Scientology thinks it’s caught a reporter in a scandal. Has it?
[TWO years ago] Deborah Rennard fends off ugly accusations by Haleigh Breest in new affidavit
[THREE years ago] Meet the heavy-hitter lawyers Scientology has hired for labor trafficking case
[FOUR years ago] Is Scientology protecting Danny Masterson or is it protecting itself? A Sea Org perspective.
[FIVE years ago] On Memorial Day, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘stolen valor’: His bogus war injuries
[SIX years ago] Behind enemy li(n)es: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s secret mission that never was
[SEVEN years ago] Erika Christensen shows off her new Scientology trophy for donating half a million bucks
[EIGHT years ago] Our photographer goes back for more Scientology ‘body routing’ on the streets of LA
[NINE years ago] As Scientology prepares for Saturday’s grand opening, its controversial sign goes up
[TEN years ago] On Memorial Day, some new revelations from L. Ron Hubbard’s military record
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Save the date for Maiden Voyage!
[TWELVE years ago] TMZ The Latest To Mix Up Tiziano Lugli for Tom Cruise
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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 3,275 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,770 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,285 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,835 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,825 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,211 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,706 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,010 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,879 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,433 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,774 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,341 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,260 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,428 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,010 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,269 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,306 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,022 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,586 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,901 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,076 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,758 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,095 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,949 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,064 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,426 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,835 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,231 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,109 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,674 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,185 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,441 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,549 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 25, 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
