Tape Shown of Former Jackson Accuser's Kin
Mood:  on fire
Topic: Prosecutor Press Release

Mon Sep 13, 8:19 AM ET


LOS ANGELES - Tapes of the father of a boy who accused Michael Jackson (news) of molestation in 1993 were played on the TV news magazine "Dateline," a decade after the singer reached a settlement with the boy that included an agreement not to discuss the case.


The boy's uncle played the recordings for NBC television's "Dateline," saying he made them around the time of the allegations. Authorities were investigating the allegations when the singer reached a settlement with his accuser, paying him a sum reported at $15 million to $20 million.


The alleged victim declined to cooperate with prosecutors, and no criminal charges were brought against Jackson at the time. The boy's uncle told "Dateline" that the family initially tried to help prosecutors bring charges, but stopped cooperating when authorities refused to place them in the witness protection program.


The father said on one recording that he initially thought Jackson was harmless, and even felt bad for him.


"He's childlike. He's a child. Nothing to fear. You put that together with the way he looks ... and you feel sorry for him. OK. And you know that he ? this tells you that he grew up an intensely lonely person."


The father eventually grew more suspicious of the singer.


The uncle said he is no longer close to his brother because of a disagreement unrelated to Jackson. He has written a self-published book about the allegations.


The uncle said he made the recordings with his brother's knowledge, but that his brother was not involved in writing the book.


Jackson did not admit misconduct at the time of the settlement but said that he was settling the case because of its potential to harm his career. He has said repeatedly that he would never harm a child.


Earlier this month, "Dateline" reported that Jackson also paid $2 million to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch in 1990 to avoid a child-molestation accusation.


Jackson's spokeswoman, Raymone K. Bain, declined to comment Sunday.


In the current molestation case against Jackson, which involves another boy, the 46-year-old pop star has pleaded not guilty to committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent, alcohol, and conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

Court documents detail potential evidence in Jackson case
Mood:  loud
From CNN Producer Dree deClamecy



LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Court documents released Tuesday revealed some of the evidence that will be admitted -- and some that will likely get tossed -- later this month in the child molestation case against pop star Michael Jackson.

Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville ordered the release of two documents -- a defense motion known as "Defendant's Items to be Suppressed" filed with the court August 19 and a "Stipulation of the Parties Regarding items Seized at Neverland Ranch" filed August 20.

These documents provide insight into what items of evidence are at issue in the case.

In late August, Melville announced he had "reviewed the evidence seized" and issued a tentative evidentiary ruling on over 100 pieces of specific evidence taken from Jackson's Neverland Ranch. However, he did not rule on the legalities surrounding the scope of the warrant or on how the raid was conducted.

At that time, he ruled 38 of the items "authorized" and asked for arguments from attorneys on eight other pieces of evidence he had concerns about. Those items will be taken up in a hearing scheduled for September 16.

The rest of the evidence was declared "suppressed," although Melville indicated a willingness to hear arguments on specific pieces of evidence excluded in his tentative ruling, asking attorneys to submit motions by September 3.

At the time of Melville's ruling, the evidence was identified only by the number. Tuesday's document release offers brief descriptions of most of the numbered evidence -- what the judge admitted, omitted and which he has questions about.

Tentatively admitted were at least a dozen computers with peripherals. Also admitted were a tissue, books, two bags, various paperwork (some with phone numbers and names), an audio cassette recorder and an audio cassette titled "Earth Song 6-8-89," keys to the master bedroom, an envelope, print ads and a letter.

All of these items were taken from Jackson's Neverland Ranch -- from the main residence, the downstairs cellar area of the arcade, the upstairs library, and the security office. Only one item was allowed from Jackson's personal office -- a black plastic case with phone recording equipment.

Among the eight evidentiary items the judge is seeking specific comment on are: legal paperwork and documents, a piece of paper with names and telephone numbers, several other pieces of paper, a camera and three videocassette tape recordings. All of the items were seized from the main house.

Melville appears poised to drop a variety of other evidence from the Neverland search.

Included in the tentative suppression list are photographs taken from the arcade at Neverland, additional photos found in a safe in an employee break room, a framed photo, a book on robotic dogs, a calendar for November 2003 with notations on a trip to South Africa, paperwork, a video tape, a Garden City Hotel bag, medicine bottles, a medical log, a vial, a magazine catering to the rich and famous, security and guest information, as well as daily entry logs for the ranch.

In another document released by the court Tuesday, Jackson defense attorney Robert Sanger complained bitterly about the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office and demanded sanctions against it.

In a report to the court filed August 16, Sanger cited the prosecution's repeated failure to provide discovery to his client. The attorney accused prosecutors of denying Jackson his "ability to present his defense."

Sanger cited the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office for withholding information necessary to Jackson's motions to suppress evidence in both the searches of Jackson's Neverland Ranch and private investigator Brad Miller's office.

He said newly provided information would cause Jackson's defense team to recall witnesses who have previously testified.

"The failure to timely produce discovery is an affront to this Court's directive to deliver information," Sanger wrote.

"The prosecution's blatant discovery abuse unnecessarily extends the hearing, thus wasting this court's time and resources. Sanctions are in order for the willful failure to produce discovery."

The fight over evidence and other matters will continue September 16 when court is back in session for at least two days of hearings.

Jackson is expected to attend September 17 when his accuser's mother is set to testify.




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CNN News Version

STATEMENT OF MR. MICHAEL JACKSON (RE: DATELINE NBC REPORT)
Mood:  hug me
Friday, September 03, 2004


It is unfortunate that yet, again, I must respond to untruths and sensationalism.

Years ago, I settled with certain individuals because I was concerned about my family and the media scrutiny that would have ensued if I fought the matter in court.

These people wanted to exploit my concern for children by threatening to destroy what I believe in and what I do. I have been a vulnerable target for those who want money.

I have spent my entire life helping millions of children across the world. I would never harm a child. It is unfortunate that some individuals have seen fit to come forward and make a complaint that is completely false.

Quite frankly, I question the timing and motive of this report.

I look forward to the day when I will be vindicated by a jury of my peers. Maybe then, these reports will come to an end.

SOURCE: TEAM MJJsource


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to MJJSource.com. The objective of this site is to provide the public and media official reports and exclusive interviews pertaining to the Michael Jackson case.

Report: Jackson paid 1990 accuser
Mood:  irritated

Alleged $2 million paid


LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Michael Jackson allegedly staved off a child molestation accusation in 1990 with a $2 million payment to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch, according to a television report.

The television news magazine by "Dateline NBC," which reported the payment in a segment to be broadcast Friday night, did not disclose its source of information.

In the segment, retired Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Thomas, now an NBC news analyst, said his office investigated Jackson in 1993 in connection with one boy's claim and came upon the second accusation.

The first boy reportedly was paid $15 million to $20 million by Jackson to avoid charges the entertainer thought would damage his career even if proved untrue.

Jackson has denied ever harming any child and is currently fighting charges he molested a boy in 2003.

Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., did not immediately return a call Thursday from The Associated Press. Lawyers in the current case are under a strict gag order.

"We always believed there were eight to 10 other children out there," Thomas told "Dateline."

But during interviews, he said, "Many of them said that they had spent time with Michael Jackson. They had spent time in his bedroom, but that nothing had happened. Some wouldn't talk to us at all."

Thomas told the AP the employee's son did not file charges and didn't want to testify "because he was afraid his friends would think he was homosexual."

Thomas has previously discussed the boy's claim, but said he wasn't sure until the Dateline report that Jackson had paid the boy $2 million.

"Dateline" said the settlement contained a clause barring it from being discussed publicly.

Thomas said the 12-year-old accused Jackson of "fondling him through his clothes," which could be the basis of misdemeanor charges. No charges were ever filed.

Both boys who accused Jackson in the 1990s are now in their 20s and are not expected to testify in the current case.

Jackson, 45, has pleaded not guilty to committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. His trial is set to start January 31, 2005.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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CNN Law Article Version

A Jackson Investigator's Controversial Find
Mood:  loud
Topic: Prosecutor Press Release
Friday, September 03, 2004

Courtesy Getty Images Hector Mata


June 29, 2004

Accused of 10 felony counts stemming from child molestation allegations, MICHAEL JACKSON remains free on $3 million bail, awaiting a trial that is expected to begin September 13.

Tonight on ET, we have more with retired LAPD officer BILL DWORIN on Jackson's similar 1993 case!

Back in 1993, Jackson came close to facing another situation when similar accusations surfaced about alleged misconduct with a 13-year-old boy, although formal charges were never filed -- in part because the child wouldn't testify in court. At the time, the child spoke to the LAPD's Sexually Exploited Child Unit, headed by the now-retired Dworin.

"He was not angry at anything, he was just wanting to get this out of the way," Dworin tells ET. "And based upon what he told us, we then obtained a search warrant for Mr. Jackson's ranch in Santa Barbara as well as a townhouse in Century City."

At the Neverland ranch, Dworin claims he found "numerous photographs of young boys." "We knew Jackson surrounded himself with boys and girls. But we also learned that he did not allow girls to visit the bedroom. It was just boys. We also found in a locked file cabinet, within Jackson's bedroom closet, a ... book depicting photographs of nude boys. Nothing illegal about these photographs. They're art-type images."

In Jackson's bedroom, Dworin also describes an alarm that was installed that made "some type of electric sound and a musical tone" when anyone entered the room. "Jackson set it up for a specific reason," says Dworin. "My opinion is to warn him when somebody was approaching the bedroom door."

Dworin says he interviewed more than 3,500 alleged child victims of abuse and exploitation over the course of his career. In this particular case, he says he believed the 13-year-old was credible because he offered detailed descriptions of Jackson's body, including his genitalia. Dworin then obtained a search warrant to photograph Jackson's body and found specific discolorations of the skin that reportedly matched the boy's descriptions. The boy also reportedly described activities to Dworin that occurred on an alleged trip with Jackson to Monaco, which Dworin claims, "had expanded to more than just the touchy feeling. It began with the kissing."

Dworin says that two other boys the same age were interviewed who had alleged improper touching by Jackson. "It was over the clothing, not skin on skin," says the retired officer. "What we consider child annoying rather than child molestation."

But after the boy at the center of the 1993 case decided not to testify in court and Jackson settled that multi-million-dollar civil suit, the criminal pursuit of the self-proclaimed king of pop came to an end.

"Once the primary victim decided not to testify based upon a civil settlement, the other children no longer had an interest in going forward with it," says Dworin.

The "Dateline" episode about Michael Jackson is causing some controversy.
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Prosecutor Press Release

Courtesy Getty Images Mark Mainz



A Michael Jackson Exclusive!

September 3, 2004

In a new, two-part "Dateline" report, airing Friday, September 3 (8 p.m. EDT, on NBC), new information is uncovered concerning what authorities discovered in their 1993 investigation of child molestation allegations against the ubiquitous MICHAEL JACKSON. Tonight on ET, we show you exclusive legal documents revealing the frightening threats made against NORMA SALINAS -- a former housekeeper and nanny of the original accuser's father and stepmother -- soon after she was interviewed by the newsmagazine.

In the document, Salinas said she received a phone call from a man who spoke good Spanish and told her: "I don't want you to be talking more about the Michael Jackson case ... I don't want you to give any interviews to any journalist, nor no one in relation to the press because, remember, you have a son that something can happen to."

In the "Dateline" piece, Salinas claims that in 1993 she worked for the original accuser's family. She also says she cared for their young children. In her exclusive interview with "Dateline," and for the first time in public, she speaks out about what she says she personally saw inside the boy's home, including an alleged overnight stay by the "King of Pop."

In the fascinating special, "Dateline" also speaks to NBC News Analyst and former Santa Barbara County sheriff JIM THOMAS, who reveals what the focus of the 1993 investigation was, and who exactly they were looking to find.

Jackson was last seen in court in August when Santa Barbara County District Attorney TOM SNEDDON, the man prosecuting him for child molestation, took the stand. Jackson's parents KATHERINE and JOSEPH, along with his siblings JANET, LaTOYA, RANDY, JACKIE and JERMAINE, were there in support of their brother.

Jackson is charged with committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $3 million bail. The pop star's trial is set to begin in January.

For more on the frightening death threats made against Norma Salinas, check out tonight's ET!

Joseph's book, Karens Statements
Mood:  happy
Michael's dad has written a tell all book: The Jacksons. That man nfuriates me....Michael doesn't need this right now. Joseph is once again using his son to get in the spotlight...when will he ever stop. The book jacket for "The Jacksons" has only one image on it: that of Michael's famous dancing feet in white socks and black patent leather shoes. On his Web site, the Jackson dad also features a link alled "Discography" in which he lists all of the albums ever made by any of his kids including Michael's "Thriller" and Janet's "Velvet Rope." It's unclear if he thinks he produced, wrote, or sang the songs on them. The book will be published by Random House Entertainment in Germany next week, with Jackson senior set to go on a big book-signing promotional tour that will eventually take him to the Frankfurt Book Festival in late September.

It unclear whether or not it will be published in America.

Judge refuses to reduce Michael Jackson's $3 million bail
Mood:  irritated
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A judge refused to reduce Michael Jackson's $3 million bail on child molestation charges, citing the entertainer's enormous wealth and a one-time alleged plan to take his accuser's family to Brazil, according to a ruling made public Wednesday.

"Defendant has the ability to hire private jets and has frequently traveled beyond the borders of the United States," said Tuesday's written ruling by Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville.

The judge said a secret grand jury transcript "provides detailed evidence" that Jackson tried to arrange for the family of the boy he is accused of molesting to travel to Brazil, and family statements indicated "this was being done against their will."

Jackson said he would join them in Brazil, according to the ruling.

"Assuming this evidence to be true, it demonstrates both the seriousness of the crime and the manner in which defendant handles situations perceived to be difficult," the ruling said.

The judge also noted that Jackson once sought the return of his passport from authorities in order to travel to England.

While he never made the trip, Jackson still might seek to leave the country before his January 31 trial and "no amount less than $3 million would provide a financial incentive to return and appear for hearings and trial," Melville wrote.

Jackson's attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Lawyers on both sides are under a gag order.

Jackson, 45, has pleaded not guilty to committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

In seeking the bail reduction, the defense had cited Jackson's charitable contributions, lack of criminal record and ties to Santa Barbara County.

The judge acknowledged Jackson's ties to the community where the case was filed, but added that he is "uniquely a person who has similarly significant ties across the country and around the world."

The judge also noted that after a police search, Jackson once announced he would no longer be living at his Neverland estate.

Jackson has no prior criminal record. But the judge said that was "partially offset" by previous allegations of child molestation, a reference to a 1993 criminal investigation that never led to charges.

In the earlier case, Melville said, prosecution "may have been derailed by a private settlement with the alleged victim." Jackson did not acknowledge misconduct but said at the time that he was settling the case because of its potential to harm his career.



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Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



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Inside Michael Jackson's Birthday Bash
Mood:  party time!

UPDATED: 6:21 PM PDT

August 31, 2004


Access Hollwyood
Tito Jackson was all smiles at brother Michael's birthday celebration.

Happy birthday, Michael Jackson!

The King of Pop turned 46 on Sunday and had the whole family by his side to celebrate.

Michael, his three children, brother Tito, sister Janet and a few other family members all hopped in a white SUV limo and headed out for a low-key dinner to celebrate on Sunday at the Noe Restaurant at the Omni Hotel in L.A.

Access Hollywood was allowed to slip in the back door to catch a glimpse of the festivities and even a chance to talk with Tito Jackson.

"Everybody's here ? mom, dad, brothers, sisters," Tito told us. "Just to have a little dinner."

The birthday boy was dressed in a diamond studded red shirt and black pants for the affair, while Janet donned a cream top and straw beach hat with beau Jermaine Dupri on her arm.

Janet and Jermaine were not part of the limo ride, however, choosing instead to arrive in a white Aston Martin sports car.

The dinner was orchestrated by head chef Robert Gadsby, a personal friend of Jermaine Jackson.

Access was in the kitchen as chef Robert prepared an 11-course meal, including course three ? his world famous gingered butternut squash soup.

"It's a good meal and I'm going back to eat some more," joked Tito.

This dinner was strictly a family affair, unlike Michael's birthday party last year. Thrown by Michael's fans and hosted by comedian and Jackson friend Steve Harvey, more than 1,000 Jackson fanatics turned out for the event.


Source from Access Hollywood & Shamika manager of
Michael Is INNOCENT

Don't Blame Me! I'm Just Doing My Job
Mood:  sharp
Tuesday, 24 August 2004

by Obiechena

When it comes to reporting anything on Michael Jackson these days, you're likely to have at least one commentator lamenting about how Jackson's backers/supporters/insiders--whatever you wish to call them--enjoy making unfounded allegations about the media and their carefully crafted coverage of the music legend. The press predictably cries foul and say it is pro-Jacksonites who are in the wrong. Apart from the massive spin cycles through which all things Jackson are run, the press will repeatedly tell you that they are just doing their jobs and reporting the news.

Their news or the news?

Take the coverage dedicated to last week's court proceedings in the Jackson case for example. Several witnesses were called by the defense to clarify whether Santa Barbara District Attorney Thomas Sneddon knew, or should have reasonably known, that private investigator Bradley Miller worked for former Jackson counsel Mark Geragos. Defense attorneys are attempting to show the prosecutor knew of the Miller-Geragos connection, which would deem the raid of the gumshoe's Beverly Hills office a violation of Jackson's attorney-client privilege.

To read the complete article, visit our Case Files section by clicking on:

MJJForum Article

Probe casts doubt on Jackson's claim he was injured during arrest
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Mishandled

Tue Aug 24, 8:21 PM ET


LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A state investigation has found that pop star Michael Jackson's claims that he was manhandled and injured during his arrest on child abuse charges were false, police said.


Santa Barbara Sheriff Jim Anderson said an investigation by the California Attorney General and the state's Bureau of Investigation had concluded that Jackson was not injured during his November 19 arrest.


"After interviewing 163 witnesses and expending an excess of 2,500 investigative hours, the California Bureau of Investigation determined that Mr Jackson was not injured at the hands of Santa Barbara Sheriffs Department personnel," Anderson told a press conference.


"The investigation also concluded there was no criminal conduct on the part of Sheriffs Department personnel during their contact with Mr Jackson," he added.


But the sheriff declined to say whether he would now pursue criminal charges against Jackson for making the allegations, as he had earlier warned he might do if the charges were proved false.


Anderson said he was prevented from expounding on his statement by a strict gag order surrounding Jackson's child molestation case that is being heard in Santa Maria, in California's Santa Barbara County.


Jackson had claimed during an interview broadcast on the American CBS television network in December that his shoulder had been dislocated and his wrists and back hurt when his hands were cuffed behind his back when he turned himself in for arrest.


"They manhandled me very roughly, my shoulder is dislocated literally, it is hurting very badly," the "King of Pop" said before showing photographs apparently showing severe bruising to his right arm.


He also claimed he was locked in a toilet in the sheriff's department for 45 minutes when he surrendered to be arrested, booked and photographed on charges he molested a 12-year-old boy at his Neverland Ranch.


But Anderson insisted Tuesday that the results of the official investigation into the allegations had vindicated his department and showed that Jackson had been treated in a "in a professional manner."


Jackson has not yet made any statement is response to the results of the California investigation. Any statement would have to be cleared in advance by trial Judge Rodney Melville.


Jackson, 45, has pleaded innocent to a 10-count indictment that includes charges of child molestation, giving alcohol to a minor, as well as conspiracies to kidnap, illegally imprison and extort his alleged victim. He is free on three million dollars bail.

Judge rules that some Neverland evidence can't be used against Jackson
Mood:  celebratory
Tue Aug 24, 9:12 AM ET


SANTA MARIA, California (AFP) - The judge in pop icon Michael Jackson's child abuse case tentatively ruled that scores of items of evidence seized at his Neverland Ranch cannot be used against him at trial.


Judge Rodney Melville made the preliminary ruling on the fifth and final day of a hearing in which the "King of Pop's" lawyers battled to get key evidence discounted ahead of his trial in order to weaken the prosecution case.


His decision came after prosecutors called two final witnesses in an attempt to rebut claims by defense lawyers and members of staff at Jackson's Neverland Ranch that investigators overstepped the authority of their search warrant when they swooped on the ranch on November 18 last year.


The judge said that of 120 items of evidence Jackson's defense team wanted thrown out, he was inclined to disallow more than 70 of them from trial.


He said that unless prosecutors and defense lawyers convinced him otherwise in written arguments, he would allow the trial jury to see only 34 pieces of the contested evidence.


"I am making this tentative ruling for the purpose of arguments and objections," the judge told the court at the end of the marathon pre-trial hearing. "It is my intent to suppress the remaining material."


He added that he wanted to see written arguments on whether eight other items seized in the Neverland swoop had been taken legally in order for him to decide whether to admit them into evidence.


Lawyers for both sides have until September 3 to submit their arguments ahead of the next hearing in the case, scheduled for September 16. Jackson's much-anticipated trial is scheduled for January 30.


Jackson's team contend that police and prosecution investigators seized evidence in areas of Neverland that they were not entitled to search under the terms of the warrant executed the day before Jackson's November 19 arrest on child molestation charges.



But journalists and legal observers present in court in Santa Maria, near Neverland, were left guessing as to the significance of the evidence tentatively thrown out by the judge on Monday.


Thousands of pieces of evidence were seized in a series on raids against properties linked to Jackson and little is publicly known about the nature of the items, except that several of them are computers and computer discs.


Much of the meat of the case has been obscured by a strict veil of secrecy that has kept documents, including details of the charges against Jackson, under seal.


On Monday, the prosecution called two law enforcement officers to cast doubt on claims by two senior Neverland staffers last week that officers had been aware they were exceeding the scope of the search warrant.


Jalaine Hogue, a criminal investigator with Santa Barbara District attorney's office contradicted Neverland property manager Joe Marcus's claim that he tried to stop the officers from exceeding their authority.


She said she conducted a 1.5 hour recorded interview with Marcus on the day of the raid and said that he never complained or mentioned any concerns about police going beyond scope of the search warrant.


And Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Russell Birchim was called to testify in an effort by prosecutors to indicate that the search of the entire building in which Neverland's security headquarters was housed was justified.


Birchim, who became familiar with the building in 1993 when he helped investigate the first child molestation allegations against Jackson, said he told prosecutors that the office defense lawyers contend was Jackson's office had been largely devoted to security in 1993.


The defense insists that the search warrant did not include permission to search Jackson's office, only his security headquarters.

Birchim said he was present in the building in December 1993 when Jackson's genitals were photographed by authorities as evidence in the case against him that later collapsed.

Jackson, 45, has pleaded innocent to a 10-count indictment that includes charges of child molestation, giving alcohol to a minor, as well as conspiracies to kidnap, illegally imprison and extort his alleged victim, who was 12 at the time. He is free on three million dollars bail.

Sheriff Pleased With Jackson Arrest Probe
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Mishandled
Tue Aug 24, 7:10 PM ET

By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Santa Barbara County sheriff said Tuesday he was vindicated by a state attorney general's report that found no evidence deputies and jail staff manhandled Michael Jackson (news) during his arrest on child molestation charges.


The report concluded there was no criminal conduct during the sheriff's department's contact with Jackson, Sheriff Jim Anderson said at a news conference.


The finding had been leaked to the media more than a week ago.


"After interviewing 163 witnesses and expending in excess of 2,500 investigative hours, the California Bureau of Investigation determined that Mr. Jackson was not injured at the hands of Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department personnel," Anderson said.


Jackson claimed in a December "60 Minutes" interview that he was handled roughly during the Nov. 20 arrest. The sheriff denied the allegations but called for an investigation.


"The findings of the attorney general's investigation have provided a clear vindication of our personnel who were involved in the arrest and booking of Mr. Jackson," Anderson said.


He declined to answer when asked if he planned to charge Jackson with making false claims. "I'm under court order not to take questions," he said.


Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. said in court last week that Jackson never made a formal complaint about his treatment or requested an investigation, although he had bruises and received medical treatment.


Jackson, 45, is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 31. He has pleaded not guilty to committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. He is free on $3 million bail.

Jackson Judge OKs 39 Pieces of Evidence
Mood:  don't ask

Tue Aug 24,12:26 PM ET

By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - After testimony from a dozen key witnesses in the Michael Jackson (news) child molestation case, the judge issued tentative rulings on evidence seized in a search of Jackson's Neverland estate.


Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville said Monday he was inclined to admit 39 pieces of evidence and is "concerned" about at least a dozen other items that he may order suppressed.


The items were referred to in court by numbers only and it was impossible to decipher what most of them were.


Minimal search warrant data previously released indicated the evidence tentatively admitted included several computer hard drives and a cassette recorder and audio tape found in a safe in Jackson's bathroom. A witness said the tape contained a child's voice.


The numbers used for items the judge expressed concern about indicated they included documents potentially covered by attorney-client privilege.


The judge said he also was inclined to suppress a number of items he did not list and no hints were given as to what they contained.


He said none of his rulings was final and he would give the defense and prosecution the opportunity to present legal arguments in written briefs and at the next series of court hearings on Sept. 16 and 17. Melville said the written briefs would be filed under seal.


Monday's final testimony in the five-day suppression hearing focused on the Neverland search. The prosecution called witnesses in an effort to overcome defense testimony that authorities took items from areas of Jackson's property that were not specified in the search warrant, and that they ignored protests by Jackson's employees.


Jalaine Hogue, a district attorney's investigator, testified she interviewed Jackson's property manager, Joseph Marcus, and said he never expressed unwillingness to be interviewed and never complained about the scope of the search.


Hogue also testified Marcus never mentioned that Jackson attorney Steve Cochran was at the gate of the estate demanding admittance during the search.


Before the search, Hogue said, she and others were gathered together by sheriff's detectives and given a packet of information relating the allegations of Jackson's accuser and a list of questions to ask his employees. Defense attorneys indicated that material has not been turned over to them.


A second witness, sheriff's Lt. Russell Birchim, said he was involved in a previous search of Neverland in 1993 and was consulted by District Attorney Tom Sneddon before the 2003 search in order to figure out where certain buildings were located.


Jackson, 45, has pleaded not guilty to charges of committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. Free on $3 million bail, Jackson is set to go on trial Jan. 31.

Two Officers Testify at Jackson Hearing
Mood:  loud

Mon Aug 23, 5:24 PM ET

By LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The prosecution in the Michael Jackson (news) child molestation case wound up its presentation in a crucial evidence hearing Monday by calling two law enforcement officers to contradict testimony by Jackson employees about a search of his Neverland ranch.


The defense has sought to show at the hearing that Santa Barbara County officials exceeded the scope of the warrant. Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville isn't expected to rule until next month.


Jalaine Hogue, a district attorney's investigator, testified that she interviewed Jackson's property manager, Joseph Marcus, during the search. She said he never expressed unwillingness to be interviewed and never complained about the scope of the search.


Hogue also testified that Marcus never mentioned that Jackson attorney Steve Cochran was at the gate of the estate demanding admittance during the search.


Under cross-examination, Hogue said there were four teams of inquisitors assigned to do interviews at the property and she was given the task of interviewing Marcus and a maid.


Before the search, Hogue said she and others were gathered together by sheriff's detectives and given a packet of information relating the allegations of Jackson's accuser and a list of questions to ask his employees. Defense attorneys indicated that material has not been turned over to them.


A second witness, sheriff's Lt. Russell Birchim, who is in charge of court security, said he was involved in a previous search of Neverland in 1993 and was consulted by District Attorney Tom Sneddon before the 2003 search in order to figure out where certain buildings were located.


Birchim said he helped Sneddon locate what he thought was the security office but acknowledged that his memory was vague after 10 years. He said he wrote a report 10 years ago on the 1993 search but did not know where the report was.


The prosecution is trying to overcome defense testimony that indicates authorities took items from areas of Jackson's property which were not specified in the search warrant. The items in dispute are not publicly known because the judge has sealed most of the search warrant affidavits.


In another development, Melville ruled that Sneddon did not violate a gag order when he spoke at a district attorneys conference in Canada.


Sneddon made statements there about having sent letters to people telling them they were potential witnesses in the Jackson case so that they would not talk to the media. He said later he did not send letters to anyone who will not be called as a witness.


The judge cautioned all lawyers to turn down public appearances.


Jackson, 45, has pleaded not guilty to charges of committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.


Jackson, free on $3 million bail, is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 31.

Stylist - Make Up Artist
Mood:  mischievious


I would like to make a statement about VH1's, MAN IN THE MIRROR.I forced myself to watch this. First let me begin with what was good about it. I thought is was an ATTEMPT to be sympathetic. BUT, if this was the case, why didn't anyone do their homework and try to make it truthful?The only thing that was true were the media reports...and we all know these are not accurate. This show was so bad I had to laugh out loud. It was a CHEAP production on every count. There was no resemblance to Michael or the Jackson family I have known for the past 25 years. The timeline was wrong. The characters where wrong. Who's creative decision was it to play Michael as a wimp and an idiot? He is the exact opposite! I guess the first clue into how bad this was going to be is there is not one note of Michael's music in it. How can you do a story of Michael without his spirit? Just another low level greedy attempt to capitalize on Michaels famous name and accomplishments.

Love,Karen



Major Love

Eve - The Music Lady





~~sending out a major love~~
"The Music Lady's"







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Positive Voices 4 MJJ
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Eve - The Music Lady (Owner-Moderator)


Note:

Music Lady Received a note from Karen Faye

Mother of Michael Jackson's Accuser to Testify
Mood:  special

Fri Aug 20, 8:55 PM ET


SANTA MARIA, Calif. (Reuters) - The mother of the boy who accused Michael Jackson (news) of child molestation was ordered by a judge on Friday to testify in a pretrial hearing in the case after the pop star's lawyers called her a liar.

The woman, who is known in court as "Jane Doe" to protect the identity of her son, will testify in September as Jackson's lawyers battle to have evidence suppressed in the high profile case, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville said.


Melville had planned on allowing the woman, who is recovering from surgery, to submit a written statement to the court instead of testifying. But Jackson's lead attorney, Tom Mesereau, said he wanted to cross-examine her.


"We firmly believe that this woman lies under oath," Mesereau said. "We would like to examine her (in court)."


Earlier, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff's deputy who was present in a November raid on Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch testified that while searching an open safe near the 45-year-old singer's bedroom he found a tape recording of what he believed was a child talking on a telephone.


Sgt. Ross Ruth said that when he played the tape: "I heard a voice ... definitely a juvenile, saying 'Somebody is coming, I have to go now."'


Ruth said he believed the recording was made in Jackson's bedroom because he could hear in the background the sound of an alarm that rings when someone enters the room. Ruth was unable to identify the child on the tape and its significance to the case was not immediately clear.


Jackson's lawyers have spent much of the week trying to convince Melville that he should throw out evidence seized against their famous client, either at Neverland or at the offices of a private detective.


The entertainer was present for Monday's court session, dressed from head to toe in symbolic white, but has skipped the remainder of the week. The hearing was scheduled to resume on Monday.


Jackson is scheduled to stand trial in January on charges of child molestation and conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty.

Conflict cited by Jackson defense
Mood:  party time!
By Norma Meyer
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

August 18, 2004

SANTA MARIA ? A defense attorney dropped a bombshell during a pretrial hearing in the Michael Jackson case yesterday, saying the psychologist who elicited the molestation allegations from the pop star's young accuser was treating a private investigator dealing with the boy and his family on behalf of Jackson.

The revelation by Jackson lawyer Brian Oxman came during questioning of psychologist Stan Katz, who first notified police about the then-12-year-old's claims of sexual abuse.

Judge: Authorities had probable cause to search Neverland ranch


Oxman called Katz's therapeutic involvement with both sides "a conflict of interest that is severe." Katz, however, kept citing the privilege and refused to say if Bradley Miller was a patient. Katz testified he interviewed Jackson's accuser after getting a call in May 2003 from Larry Feldman, the attorney who obtained a multimillion-dollar settlement on behalf of another alleged Jackson molestation victim in 1993.

Katz testified he had heard Miller's name mentioned twice: once by Feldman in June 2003 when the attorney said Miller had videotaped the boy and his family about Jackson and months later regarding a "break-in" on the news.

Suddenly, Oxman boomed: "Bradley Miller is a very special patient of yours, isn't he Dr. Katz?" Katz looked taken aback and answered, "If he was my patient, I couldn't discuss him." Oxman continued: "Bradley Miller is Dr. Katz's patient and he's been so for many years." Katz said he knew Miller "professionally," from family law cases the two had been involved in. Katz testified in the pretrial hearing during which the defense hopes to get evidence thrown out that was seized during a search of Miller's office.

Jackson's lawyers contend Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon and officers knew at the time Miller was employed by Jackson's former lawyer, Mark Geragos, and thus violated the attorney-client privilege.

As he peppered Katz with questions, Oxman suggested the psychologist knew so much about Miller, he must have been aware of the relationship with Geragos and must have informed authorities about it before last November's raid.

Katz denied he told law enforcement officials Miller worked for Geragos. Later in the day, Melville dealt the defense a blow when he ruled against their bid to challenge the legality of the search at Jackson's Neverland Ranch. The judge said the accuser's statement of being molested was a valid reason for authorities to raid Jackson's compound. The judge noted the defense could pursue a challenge of specific items taken in the search.

During Katz's testimony, the therapist acknowledged he ran into Miller on the street after the search and the investigator asked him, "Dr. Katz, you're not the psychologist on this, are you?" Katz said he told Miller he couldn't "comment on any of my cases," to which Oxman interjected: "Not even to your own clients?"

That final repeated reference to Miller as a "patient" or a "client" angered Melville, who had earlier ruled Oxman couldn't question Katz about privileged information. The judge then fined Oxman $1,000 and stormed off the bench.

Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20040818-9999-1n18jackson.html

Dollbaby

REMEMBER: An indictment is not proof of evidence; it is merely the unopposed story of the prosecutor, waiting to be shattered at trial.


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Eve - The Music Lady (Owner-Moderator)

Shakedown Admitted By Accuser's Side
Mood:  on fire
21/08/2004

The following article comes from Roger Friedman (Fox News):

It's no shock that Thursday's big admission in the Michael Jackson case concerned a shakedown. Major Jay Jackson, stepfather now to Jackson's 14-year-old accuser, conceded in court that he asked Jackson's staff for a lot of things as compensation for the family's participation in a "rebuttal" video.

I've been telling you for months that Jay Jackson and the accuser's mother wanted everything they could get from the King of Pop and his associates. There are receipts, too, lots of them, that can be brought into evidence showing how much shopping the mother did on Michael Jackson's dime.

But Major Jackson is wrong about one thing: He suggested that his wife and stepkids were held "for months" at Michael's Neverland ranch in 2003. In fact, the family stayed there on and off between Feb. 7 and March 11 of that year.

On March 11, the mother was awarded an increase in her weekly alimony from family court from her ex-husband. She and her children returned to Major Jackson's apartment (the couple were not married yet at that time). After that, their connection to Neverland was almost completely severed.

At this point it would look like the case against Michael Jackson is falling apart. But if it goes to trial, look for more evidence to surface regarding the accuser's family and their refusal to give up a juicy Neverland lifestyle supported by Michael Jackson.

Source: Roger Friedman / Fox News

Authorities Arrest Over Death Threat
Mood:  down

21/08/2004

On Monday, August 16, 2004, a death threat against Michael Jackson was received via e-mail at the Santa Maria courthouse, where Mr. Jackson was scheduled to make a court appearance.

Authorities traced the message back to a Kitchener, Ontario address in Canada, and regional police in Waterloo, Ontario were notified by Santa Barbara police. Waterloo police aided in the investigation by searching a home in Kitchener on Thursday. No details of the threat have been released.

Adrian Poffley, 26, of Kitchener, Ontario has been charged with sending a death threat and is scheduled to appear in court in September.

Source: MJJSource