USA: MICHAEL JACKSON IS CHARGED WITH CHILD MOLESTATION, LAUNCHING A MEDIA FRENZY IN THE SMALL TOWN OF SANTA MARIA

Record ID: 393326

  • Title: USA: MICHAEL JACKSON IS CHARGED WITH CHILD MOLESTATION, LAUNCHING A MEDIA FRENZY IN THE SMALL TOWN OF SANTA MARIA
  • Date: 18th December 2003
  • Summary: (W8) NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 18, 2003) (REUTERS) FOR DETAILED SHOTLIST 21 - 23 SEE PROD 17957/03: CU NEW YORK POST NEWSPAPER COVER
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SANTA MARIA / SANTA BARBARA / LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATS AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Crime,Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVADOWMOX537ZJ6QXGWVCWVLFAQF
  • Story Text: Michael Jackson is charged with child molestation,
    launching a media frenzy in the small town of Santa Maria,
    California.



    Michael Jackson was formally charged Thursday
    (December 18) with nine counts of child molestation
    including seven lewd acts on a boy under 14-years of age.

    Jackson is also accused of giving the boy, who is not
    identified in court papers, an "intoxicating agent" in
    order to make it easier to molest him. If found guilty,
    Jackson could face more than 20 years in prison and be
    forced to register as a sex offender under California law.

    The charges stem from the pop star's association with a
    young cancer victim who often spent the night with Jackson
    at his "Neverland Ranch."
    The self-declared "King of Pop," who was arrested on
    suspicion of child molestation last month and released on
    $3 million bail, was not present when the charges were
    unsealed at a courthouse in Santa Maria, central
    California, near his Neverland Valley Ranch.

    Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon announced
    the charges at a crowded news conference in Santa Maria,
    California. Sneddon, who has been portrayed in the press as
    Jackson's nemesis, announced the charges at a press
    conference in which he denied media speculation that he
    delayed filing the charges in order to buttress a weak
    case.

    Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos, said the charges were
    driven by "greed and revenge" and vowed that his client
    would ultimately be proven innocent in court.

    "Michael Jackson is going to fight these charges with
    every fiber of his soul. I'm here to tell you right now
    that we will take no quarter in terms of this defense. I'm
    telling you right now that there is absolutely no way that
    we will stand for this besmirching of this man with these
    horrible, horrible allegations," Geragos said at a news
    conference outside his Los Angeles office.

    Jackson was due in court on January 16 for a formal
    reading of the charges.

    Also on Thursday, the New York Post reported that the
    pop star has reportedly converted to Islam. Jackson's
    alleged religious conversion has prompted some changes in
    his personal staff, the paper reported. The Post said
    members of the Nation of Islam had worked successfully to
    bring Jackson into Rev. Louis Farrakhan's fold. Jackson
    previously was a member of the religious group the
    Jehovah's Witnesses.

    Jackson's brother Jermaine, who converted to Islam in
    1989, has brought at least one Nation of Islam bodyguard
    onto Michael's staff.

    Meanwhile, catering trucks have been spotted arriving
    at Jackson's Neverland Ranch this week. The 45-year-old
    entertainer was expected to attend a party there on
    Saturday night (December 20) with friends and family
    members who wanted to lend him support.

    Neighbours of Jackson, in Santa Maria, California
    reacted to the latest chapter of what should be an ongoing
    saga for some time.

    "Oh yeah, oh yeah. They think that he's getting set up.

    Some say he deserves it. I don't know, I haven't been
    following it," Pamela Gonzales.

    "When he's here, he's pretty quiet, I mean he goes to
    Toys R Us [a retail toy store], it's pretty low key. He's
    not a people person to where he's out and about, so it
    really doesn't impact Santa Maria that much other than, you
    know, the trial here instead of being in Santa Barbara,"
    Damon Boggs said.

    "I don't think anybody in the United States is going to
    have an open mind at this point. I think it's got a lot of
    media coverage so it would be pretty hard to find a jury
    with good perspective," Steve Gilligan said.

    Jackson plans to travel to England in the coming days,
    a spokesman said. Jackson's lawyers arranged with
    prosecutors for the return of his passport that was
    confiscated at the time of his arrest.

    Jackson, who survived a similar brush with the law 10
    years ago by making a multimillion dollar out-of-court
    settlement with the family of a teenage boy, has protested
    his innocence.
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