Scientology unbound: The grand jury indictments of L. Ron Hubbard 2.0

Yesterday, Lafayette Ronald Hubbard — his actual legal name, although we also know him by his previous appellation, “Justin Craig” — had his trial put off once again, scheduling yet another pretrial hearing for August 2.

It’s nearly three years now since the former California felon ended up in a Tennessee jail awaiting trial on numerous charges, including several that he’s picked up since he’s been in custody.

Between his prison stays in California as Justin Craig and his lengthy lockup in the Anderson County Jail as Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, he spent several years in the state of Washington where he managed to convince a number of “independent Scientologists” — who practice Scientology ideas in the “Freezone” outside the official Church of Scientology — that he was the returned L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986), founder of the movement.

We had an interesting time in 2018 messaging with him and revealing how extensive his criminal background was, including some attempted carjackings and a penchant for violent retaliation. He didn’t seem very convincing as the reincarnated Hubbard — he didn’t know what Ron actually called his third and final wife, for example — but to this day there are some indie Scientologists who are convinced that LRH has returned to Earth, and that “Lafayette” has actually improved on Scientology’s “technology” in a new form called “Esperianism.”

We appreciate “indies” or “Freezoners” because, no longer under the control of the church, they can talk freely of things like body thetans, the “OT” levels, and other bizarre ideas that church members try to keep quiet. And many former longtime Scientologists tell us it’s actually not unusual for subjects in auditing to “remember” that they were Hubbard, or Jesus, or Julius Caesar. But few have taken it as far as Craig, who self-published several books under the name “Chairman of the Board.”

Despite being incarcerated since 2021, Craig/Lafayette continues to get messages out, telling his followers at Facebook that he expects to get out of jail soon, and encouraging them to keep sending money and believing in him and in Esperianism, and some of them do, they really do.

But even a Great Thetan like LRH 2.0 has to make concessions to a place like Tennessee, as he informed his followers recently that while he’s still committed to Esperianism, he’s apparently trodding the well-worn path of inmate Christian piety, and mixing it in with Scientological heterodoxy…

TO ALL ESPERIANS, As to my upcoming and potential release – it is not a guarantee. There’s a good chance it may happen, but it may as easily not. If it does, I’ll have to stay in the Tennessee area for some time. It will probably be a year or more at least. I’ll actually be working with a Christian ministry that does recovery work with those who have been on drugs, so I plan on using those connections to form and start a nonprofit with a physical location. We will offer mostly online and digital services, but I also want a place where scientologists can do the tech and even rent apartments and stay longterm. I’ll more than likely buy an old luxury hotel to do this. But that is all I can say for now. So wish me luck on the 31st. Love, Ron

Ron 2.0 never fails to be ambitious, that’s for sure. But according to the court docket, yesterday’s court date only resulted in yet another delay to August 2.

However, for the first time we finally managed to get copies of the actual indictments against LRH 2.0 that give us a better understanding of the charges he’s facing.

We’ve put them in chronological order, beginning with police visiting him at the Rocky Top Inn and Suites, where he was staying in 2021. We’ve redacted the name of his victim, because the report suggests she fended off a sexual attack.

 Oct 9, 2021 (aggravated assault, Class C felony)

On October 9, 2021 at approximately 21:45 P.M., I was dispatched to 620 N Main St, Rocky Top Inn and Suites, Room #11, in reference to a welfare check on [redacted] due to her mother receiving a phone call from her stating that she had been beaten up and may have some injuries. I arrived and made contact with [redacted] in Room #11, and she advised me that she was visiting with [J.D.] and his girlfriend, [S.D.], in Room #11. [S.D.] had introduced her to a male in Room #21 at Rocky Top Inn and Suites.

Mrs. [redacted] advised me that while alone in room with male in Room #21, the male choked her and wanted to have sex with her, and she declined, at which point she told me that she felt like the male would not allow her to leave the room. Mrs. [redacted] advised that the male started beating her in the face and she blacked out for an unknown amount of time, woke up the next day, and went to Room 11, [J.D.’s] room, and told him that the male in Room #21 with the nickname “The Beast” had beaten her up and choked her.

I spoke with the witness, [J.D.], and he stated that his girlfriend, [S.D.], had introduced Mrs. [redacted] to the male in Room #21 with the nickname “The Beast” on the night of October 8, 2021, and Mrs. [redacted] had been staying with “The Beast” since that date.

During the day on October 9, 2021 Mrs. [redacted] had come back to [J.D.’s] room with a bloody nose and had been crying and told him what had happened in Room #21. I observed bruising on Mrs. [redacted]’s face, dried blood around the nostrils and mouth, an actively bleeding nose, and also Mrs. [redacted]’s upper palate appeared to be detached from her face, moving around in an abnormal way. I contacted Anderson County EMS to check Mrs. [redacted] and she was transported to Lafollette Medical Center in Campbell County. I called to speak with Mrs. [redacted] and learned that she had been transferred from Lafollette to University of Tennessee Medical Center for her injuries to get a facial scan. I identified the male with the nickname “The Beast,” in Room #21, as being Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, due to having several complaints about the male, and having personal contact with the male through a traffic stop where I checked his Washington state Driver’s License. 

Oct 13, 2021 (sale/possession, felonies)

On October 13, 2021, Agents with the 7th Judicial Crime Task Force, United States Marshals Service, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a warrant service of Lafayette Hubbard at 620 N. Main Street, Room 21, Rocky Top, Tn 37769. Hubbard was observed entering the room, and subsequently the US Marshals Service knocked and announced at the door and forced entry into the room. In plain view, a large amount of gray powder substance and a black substance were observed in an open safe on the nightstand. The affiant then prepared a search warrant and had it signed by the Honorable Judge Roger Miller prior to searching the room.

The search warrant yielded the following illegal contraband: approximately 1 half ounce (13.14 grams) of a suspected heroin/fentanyl compound, bulk drug paraphernalia to include baggies and scale, and 1 gram of suspected methamphetamine.

All substances were field tested with a True Narc Handheld Mass Spectrometer. All substances tested positive for what they were suspected to be. Due to the weight of the substances, the baggies and scales, and drug ledgers found on scene, it is reasonable to believe that Lafayette Hubbard is involved in the sale of illicit drugs. Hubbard is charged with man/del/sale/poss of sch I, man/del/sale/poss of sch II, man/del/sale/poss of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Dec 31, 2021 (assault, misdemeanor)

I, Detective Sergeant Charles Wally Braden investigated an incident that occurred at the Anderson County Detention Facility, 308 Public Safety Lane in Housing Unit 3, Cell 314. Corporal Barry Burchfield, Deputy Jordan Hannah and Deputy Kayla Stallings reported on 12/31/2021 at approximately 8:20 P.M. the Defendant, inmate Lafayette Ronald Hubbard vandalized his bunk in his cell by pulling it out of the floor and throwing it on the tables in the dayroom causing the bunk to break into several pieces. Deputies reported Cpl. Burchfield ordered the Defendant to lock down when he eventually complied and returned to his cell and closed the door. Cpl. Burchfield stated he and Deputy Stallings checked his cell door to make sure it was locked when the Defendant stated “If someone disrespects us again, I’m not afraid to stab them with a piece of metal. I have been to prison and jail for years and I am not afraid to go back.”

Deputies further stated at approximately 9:11 P.M. after cleaning the dayroom up, they went back to the Defendant’s cell to search for a piece of metal missing from the leg of the Defendant’s bunk and to take his mat and linens. Cpl. Burchfield stated he informed the Defendant they were coming into his cell to take his mat and linens and the Defendant stated “You’re not taking anything out of this cell without a fight.” Deputies stated the Defendant grabbed his mat and placed it up against his cell door. Deputies reported they opened the Defendant’s cell door when the Defendant ran out of his cell and charged toward Deputy Hannah striking him, Cpl. Burchfield and Deputy Stallings with a closed fist several times. Deputy Hannah stated the Defendant hit him several times in the face causing his lip to bleed.

The Defendant did assault Deputy Hannah by hitting him with a closed fist causing injury to his lip. 

March 15, 2023 (Aggravated Assault, Class C Felony)

I, Detective Sergeant Charles Wally Braden opened an investigation for an Aggravated Assault that occurred at the Anderson County Detention Facility, 308 Public Safety Lane. Deputy Kevin Nickell reported on March 15, 2023 at approximately 2:25 A.M., while he was working his assigned post as a Rover in Housing Unit 7, himself and Deputy Devin Corn went into F Pod to serve Disciplinary Board paperwork on the Defendant, Inmate Lafayette Ronald Hubbard for not locking down when instructed to and verbal abuse.

Deputy Nickell reported after the Defendant argued with him for several minutes over the Disciplinary Board violations, the Defendant suddenly struck him in the throat with a Karate chop strike. Deputy Nickell reported after the Defendant hit him in the throat he backed out of the cell so Deputy Devin Corn could assist him in getting the Defendant restrained. Deputy Nickell reported the Defendant was choking him with his shirt and pulled it around his neck and began choking him with it.

Deputy Nickell reported the Defendant was choking him with his shirt with one hand and repeatedly hitting him with closed fist strikes to his head and face with his other hand. Deputy Nickell, Corporal James Daugherty and Deputy Corn reported after a struggle with the Defendant they were able to finally get the Defendant restrained. Deputy Nickell reported he suffered injury to his neck from the Defendant choking him with his shirt and from being hit in his throat as well as abrasions on his face and head from being punched by the Defendant.

I viewed the video from the incident and it revealed the Defendant initially hitting Deputy Nickell while they were in cell 2. The video further revealed Deputy Nickell back out of the cell with the Defendant following him while he was hitting Deputy Nickell with closed fist strikes. Then, the Defendant grabbed Deputy Nickell’s shirt ripping it while pulling his shirt around his neck. Deputy James Daugherty enters the dayroom and after a struggle they were finally able to get the Defendant restrained.

The Defendant did commit Aggravated Assault on Deputy Nickell by hitting him in the throat, choking him with his shirt and punching him many times with closed fist strikes. Deputy Nickell did have injury with abrasions, redness and swelling to his neck, head and face. 

March 15, 2023 (Assault, misdemeanor)

I, Detective Sergeant Charles Wally Braden opened an investigation for an Assault that occurred at the Anderson County Detention Facility, 308 Public Safety Lane. Deputy Devin Corn reported on March 15, 2023 at approximately 3:30 A.M. while he was working his assigned post as a Rover in Housing Unit 7 and was speaking with an inmate in Pod F, Cell 11, the Defendant Inmate Lafayette Ronald Hubbard called him to his cell to speak with him. Deputy Corn reported as he opened the Defendants cell door, the Defendant charged at him and started striking him with closed fist punches to his face and head. Deputy Corn reported the Defendant attempted to grab him by the throat and get him in a headlock but he was able to avoid the Defendant’s maneuvers. Deputy Corn reported the Defendant kept hitting him in the head, neck and face multiple times with close fist punches. Deputy Kevin Nickell reported he observed Deputy Corn getting assaulted by the Defendant and rushed into the Pod to assist Deputy Corn. Deputy Corn reported when the Defendant saw Deputy Nickell enter the Pod he laid on the floor and they were able to get him restrained. Deputy Corn reported he had abrasions, redness and swelling to his face, head and neck areas from the Defendant’s assault on him. I observed Deputy Corn to have abrasions and swelling on his face and head. The Defendant did commit the offense of Assault on Deputy Corn. Deputy Corn did receive minor injuries from the Defendant’s assault.

Justin Craig/Lafayette Ronald Hubbard is currently housed at the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton, Tennessee, on $536,000 bond.

Meanwhile, at his YouTube channel, which has not had a new video in five years, comments remain that reflect the earnest otherworldliness of indies.

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Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history

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