New Jackson abuse claims probed

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Los Angeles police are investigating new allegations of child abuse against pop icon Michael Jackson from the 1980s, according to a police statement.

One of the singer's lawyers said Tuesday he expected the story would eventually be proved false.

The one-paragraph police statement said police were contacted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office one month ago.

"The victim alleges the acts took place in the City of Los Angeles in the late 1980's," the police statement said.

"The Department's Juvenile Division, Child Protection Section, is currently investigating the allegations."

Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles district attorney's office, said the police statement was correct.

"We did ask them to conduct an investigation about one month ago," she said in a phone interview.

"It's still ongoing, but we have no further comment."

LAPD public information officer Jason Lee told CNN the department would release no further details about the investigation or the allegations.

Ben Brafman, one of Jackson's lawyers, predicted in a phone interview with CNN the new claims would be proven false.

"It is simply not possible, nor productive, to even try and respond to the dozens of baseless rumors and outrageous allegations that surface on almost a daily basis," Brafman said.

"In virtually all of these cases, once the facts have been objectively investigated, they have been found to be entirely without merit.

"My expectation is that this story, like so many others, will eventually prove to be false and in all likelihood [was] promoted by people who have their own selfish agendas or are otherwise seeking to compromise the right of Mr Jackson to a fair hearing on the charges presently pending," Brafman added.

A grand jury is currently hearing a child molestation case against Jackson, 45, who pleaded not guilty in January to seven felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an "intoxicating agent."

Prosecutors say the incidents for which Jackson has been indicted took place in February and March 2003.

Jackson was investigated in 1993 after allegations of sexual misconduct involving a 13-year-old boy.

The singer settled that case with the boy's family out of court, and no charges were ever filed.

-- CNN Producer Dree De Clamecy contributed to this report


Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/04/14/jackson.newcharge/index.html