Today’s court hearing was brief, but we learned a few things about Danny Masterson’s upcoming challenge facing rape charges that may put him in prison for 45 years to life if he’s convicted.
Judge Eleanor Hunter, sitting in for Judge Charlaine Olmedo, accepted Masterson’s not guilty plea and set the next court hearing for August 9. She said that would be the “zero of 90” date, which means she was setting a schedule that would give us a trial in early November.
Outside of the courtroom, Masterson was asked how he felt about his chances, and he told a journalist “I feel fantastic.”
We have that video for you here first.
Masterson was asked to turn in his passport, as we expected, but Judge Hunter said that it would be held by the Postal Service, a federal agency.
The August 9 date includes a hearing on a motion to quash, which will be filed soon on our behalf by our attorney Scott Pilutik. (Mesereau had subpoenaed us for documents.)
Also on that date, Masterson’s motion to dismiss the case on lack of evidence will be heard, and we have a feeling it doesn’t have much of a chance to succeed.
November in Los Angeles. Sounds lovely.
For more notes on our day in court, please see our earlier report.
Please see links to our reporting the Masterson investigation going back to 2017.
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“I had a psychiatrist reading Dianetics, and he was rushing out every few minutes and putting the electrodes on somebody and coming back in. And he says, ‘Yes. Yes. I’ve looked at this book. This book came in the other day. It came in the other day. And I looked at it, and I’ve looked it over. And I’ve reported it to the association. I think it’s disgraceful.’ And he says, ‘I’m a Horney.’ I said, ‘Well what philosophy do you follow in your psychoanalysis?’ He says, ‘I’m a Horney man myself. I’m a Horney man.’ And he rushed out and strapped and shocked somebody else and came back in again. And he says, ‘I’m a Horney man.’ While he was gone, I saw the book Horney, Karen Horney. So I said, ‘Well, what is Horney? What is the Horney offshoot of Freudian analysis?’ and so on. He says, ‘I don’t know. I never read it.’ It’d be different if I was telling you that for a gag. But actually that’s totally factual. Unbelievably true. He was a Horney man, but he’d never read anything by Horney. I don’t know, how do you get it? Telepathic?” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 7, 1961
“Hey, on this cruise, where are we going? Any suggestions?” — The Commodore, June 7, 1969
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“Hubbard spoke much and said little, except dying forever in the rigid apathy of MEST. What is the future of ALL beings? What cause does each being have in the fate of all other beings? What makes an eternal future acceptable? When does the being attain ‘the future is endlessly beautiful?’ I think people hide behind all this complexity and erudition of auditing because in fact they do NOT know the first answer to any of these questions, and they hope that with enough TIME getting mucked up in complexity and perfection of approach and secrets etc, they will one day realize their way out of an unconfrontable and untenable future.”
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2001: El Pais reported that the trial of Spanish Scientologists in Madrid will go forward without Heber Jentzsch. “The judgment against 16 members of the Church of the Scientology began yesterday in the Hearing of Madrid in spite of the absence of the main defendant and world-wide leader of this organization, Heber Jentzsch. The court decided to judge the 16 criminals who attended, the majority members of Dianetics and Narconon, and to hold another trial of Jentzsch if he ever returns to Spain. The US Department of Justice sent a fax to the Hearing of Madrid indicating that it was unable to serve the subpoena upon Jentzsch. The decision to go on with the trial was contested by the public prosecutor, who announced the possibility of appealing to the Supreme Court because he considers that Jentzsch (who faces possible sentences of a total of 56 years of jail for 12 crimes: injuries, illicit association, threats and fiscal fraud, among others) is a fundamental part of this trial. The 16 charged who appeared will be tried without their leader. Today, the parties will raise their previous questions and soon the interrogations will begin. The public prosecutor imputes a ten of crimes to these 16 defendant, and demands for them 26 years of jail.”
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“I have mixed feelings about zoos and especially places like Sea World. To me it’s basically imprisonment and enslavement of other life forms. Unfortunately, by the middle of this century they are probably the only place many of these life forms will exist, so there’s the rub.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Held to answer for trial, next arraignment set for June 7.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference August 21 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for June 18.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology has until June 25 to respond.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court grants review on May 26, asks Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.
Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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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, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
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] The unanticipated pandemic benefit: Nutty Scientology online videos
[TWO years ago] Photo evidence which suggests, sadly, that Riley Keough has slipped back into Scientology
[THREE years ago] Testimony by the World’s First Real Clear, part two: ‘Scientology is designed to entrap people’
[FOUR years ago] Leah Remini’s ‘Troublemaker’ will become a Lifetime movie: Who plays Tom Cruise?
[FIVE years ago] NAFC names David Miscavige a witness in Scientology trial scheduled for October
[SIX years ago] When Tom Cruise was one of Scientology’s biggest donors: A look back
[SEVEN years ago] Ryan Hamilton makes it an even dozen federal lawsuits against Scientology’s rehab network
[EIGHT years ago]
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,324 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,829 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,349 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,369 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,260 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,567 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,435 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,209 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,539 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,013 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,329 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,895 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,814 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,982 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,563 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,824 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,862 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,575 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,100 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 455 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,630 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,181 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,330 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,650 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,505 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,624 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,980 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,283 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,389 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,791 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,663 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,246 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,741 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,995 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,104 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 7, 2021 at 19:45
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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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
