"Anonymous" Attacker of the Church of Scientology Given a One-Year Stay Away Order

In the Boston Municipal Court, Gregg Housh, 32, admitted to facts sufficient to warrant a finding of guilt on charges of disturbing the peace and disturbing religious services for leading a February 10, 2008 disturbance at the Boston Church of Scientology. Housh's case was continued for one year, the terms of which include a court order to stay away from the Church of Scientology of Boston's locations in the Back Bay and the South End.

Housh is the self-proclaimed leader of the Boston cell of an underground cyber-terrorist group called Anonymous. He is the second member of Anonymous to face criminal charges in the past week for acts committed against a Scientology Church. On Friday October 17th, The U.S. Department of Justice announced the filing of federal criminal charges against New Jersey Anonymous member Dmitriy Guzner related to the January, 2008 attempted destruction of websites owned by the Church of Scientology. Guzner has agreed to plead guilty to felony charges that could send him to prison for ten years.

At the October 21 hearing, Boston Municipal Court Judge Thomas C. Horgan warned Housh that if he violates any of the terms of his probation he could face one year in the House of Correction.