Even More Damaging Docs of Accusing Family?s Past ? MJEOL Bullet #99 REPOST
Mood:  celebratory

Given current revelations about the accuser's mother's past, which includes once accusing her ex-husband of sexually molesting the accuser and falsely imprisoning them, it seems appropriate that we recap what other people have had to say about this family.

In March 2004, NBC did an interview with the attorney who represented JCPenney in a lawsuit filed against them by this very same family.

In a stunning development yesterday (March 4), the attorney who represented JCPenney in a court case involving the family now accusing Jackson, released over 100 pages of documents from that case, and blasted the mother?s motives both in their case and in the Jackson case (see transcript from replay of report).

The attorney, Tom Griffin, was interviewed by NBC?s Mike Taibbi, the same reporter who broke the story about Richard Matsuura totally blasting the defamatory Vanity Fair article about Jackson in which Matsuura is cited as one of the children allegedly ?given wine by Jackson? (see Matsuura Angry at Defamatory Vanity Fair Article-Bullet #89).

Tom Griffin calls what the mother did to JCPenney a ?shakedown?. What was a small altercation with security?after some of the family members were actually caught outside of the store with ?an arm full of shoplifted clothes?--turned into a $3 million lawsuit.

The family claimed they were beaten severely in broad daylight by security to the extent where they all had broken bones. As of now, it is unknown if any medical records exist of the family?s alleged beating by store security. Griffin says there was absolutely nothing to backup their claims.

From the number of documents obtained by NBC, it would seem there was a substantial amount of information gathered by JCPenney?s defense team in that case. During his investigation, Griffin says:


It became readily apparent that this was an incident in my opinion, a scam, to extract money from JCPenney.

What may have sparked Griffin?s suspicions is the fact that the family, two years after filing the initial lawsuit, suddenly claimed the mother was sexually fondled in her breast and pelvic area for approximately 7 minutes by the guard or guards during the altercation. Remember this supposedly happened, according to them, in broad daylight after the family was stopped for shoplifting. She didn?t report this to the police or claim it happened at that time. Maybe she just?forgot?? If this seems far-fetched, then you are not alone.

During depositions and investigations, the psychiatrist for JCPenney said that the mother ?rehearsed? her two sons?one is the accuser?to lie and back-up the story she was telling. Sound familiar? The psychiatrist also says that the children were coached in what ?sounded like scripted copies of (her) testimony? (see Is the Michael Jackson molestation case a shakedown?).

According to the documents, the psychiatrist also found the mother to be ?schizophrenic? and ?delusional.? Even her own psychiatrist found her to be ?anxious and depressed.?

If you remember, this information fits with what Russ Halpern (father?s attorney) said in Nov 2003:

Halpern said the father once showed him a script his wife had allegedly written for their children to use when they were questioned in a civil deposition.

?She wrote all of their testimony. I actually saw the script,? Halpern said. ?I remember my client showing me, bringing the paperwork to me.? (see Accuser's Mother Writes Script of Lies).

Now there are two parties, independent from each other, confirming that the mother has previously coached her children/scripted their testimony. So why, then, does it seem to physically hurt some media people to actually make room in their mind for the possibility that Jackson is innocent? Maybe they?re suffering from the same kind of attitude the current district attorney of Santa Barbara is suffering from: It?s called the ?Jackson-is-guilty-and-ignore-everything-to-the-contrary? syndrome.

The JCPenney attorney continues:

?She just came up with this fairy tale, not a fairy tale, it?s a horror story, and just ran with it.?

Make no mistake about it, this information is devastating to the prosecution?s case whether they admit it or not. JCPenney ultimately settled the case two days before the trial for $137,500.00, a far cry from the $3 million the family was initially seeking.

This new information isn?t coming from the defense but rather an independent 3rd party who has had a run-in with this family in the past. And to have yet another party having a copy of this scripted testimony cannot be explained away.

What is also interesting is before the family saw a penny from the JCPenney lawsuit, the mother filed for divorce. The father too, may have been a part of the lawsuit against the store and an adversary of Griffin?s at the time. So there isn?t any apparent reason for them to conspire with each others story concerning the mother coaching her kids.

Has this stopped media attack dogs like Gloria Allred from rabidly trying to explain away the story? Of course not. What those like Allred do is attack the attorney bringing forth the information. She actually said on the Abrams Report (March 4):

The idea that an attorney for JCPenney?s would come out and take a cheap and seemingly unwarranted attack on a mother of a child who is alleged to be the victim of child molestation, I think it?s absolutely outrageous

Oh how dare Griffin throw his documented proof in our faces! How dare he make the public aware of previous actions regarding this family?s affinity for bending the truth! This isn?t about the attorney for JCPenney or his documents and opinions based on those documents. Allred can?t adequately defend the mother?s actions, so she attacks the attorney who brought the info to the public?s attention.

When asked his opinion about the family?s claims against Jackson, Griffin says:

They?re going for a homerun this time. This is a shakedown. Shakedown, part two.

There is probably much more information within the pages of these documents, which makes this attorney so set in his opinions on this family.

When asked on the Today show (March 5) if Jackson?s team had anything to do with this story or these documents, Jackson?s publicist Raymone Bain says ?We weren?t behind that.? And if one thinks about it, how in the world could the defense or anyone other than the attorney have anything to do with this story? They aren?t the authors of these documents nor are they the ones doing the interview with NBC?s Mike Taibbi.

MJEOL.com

The Jackson Kids To Appear On CBS!!
Mood:  energetic


Michael Jackson's nieces and nephews will appear on TV to defend him against child molestation charges and drum up sympathy for their embattled family,
CBS News says.

The Jackson kids - Jermajesty, 4, Jaafar, 8, 12-year-old twins Randy and Donte, and Genevieve, 14, will appear on the network's "The Early Show" on Thursday and Friday.

The children, whose dads are Michael's brothers Jermaine and Randy, say they are teased at school and hurt by publicity about their uncle's criminal
case.

"They know inside that my uncle is innocent. So they just want to tease us to be cruel, because they're not happy with themselves," Genevieve told CBS.

"Us kids, you know, we get hurt from that because that's our uncle," Genevieve told CBS. And Jackson's nephew Donte complained about some media referring to his uncle as "wacko."

Jermaine Jackson says he hopes the kids will help the family's image. "We are just like any other family. We are like the Brady Bunch, but we're the
Jackson bunch."

The kids' TV appearances are the family's latest attempt to help Michael. Last month, the singer's famous siblings showed up at his court hearing.

Source:MJSTAR

Inside Michael's Private World
Mood:  sad
Topic: Prosecutor Press Release

October 4, 2004


Controversial herbalist Dr. Sebi claims that Michael Jackson's brother, Randy, brought him in this past winter to help the pop star detox from what Sebi calls an addiction crisis. "I was told by the cooks that [Jackson] was falling down and they had to pick him up off the floor? many times," Sebi told us.

Dr. Sebi is not a licensed medical doctor, but the self-proclaimed healer insists he helped Michael kick an addiction to painkillers that some published reports trace back to a painful 1984 accident where Jackson's hair caught fire shooting a commercial.


"His condition was one that was of stress because of the drug that he was taking," Sebi said of Jackson. "They were feeding him drugs all day long; he had to take them because of his sleeplessness and his nerves."

Dr. Sebi says that, starting a couple of months after Jackson was booked on molestation charges, he traveled with Michael and provided herbal compounds that eased the embattled superstar's nerves.

"When he came out of the state of stress from the drugs, his behavior was one that was free of concern about the case," Sebi told us. "He's absolutely certain that he's going to win this case. That he's not guilty."

And about Tom Sneddon and the pop star's other enemies, Sebi said, "If anything, Michael feels sorry for them. He has expressed love for Tom Sneddon."

While Sebi says Jackson seemed serene about the molestation charges, the singer created another drama in February near Aspen when he and a young man entered a Wal-Mart. The superstar wore a ski mask and scared employees, who called the cops.

"He asked me if I saw the news, and I said 'yes,'" Sebi explained. "So I asked him, 'Why did you go in there with ski masks?' He said, 'Well, I wanted to be discreet, but they called the police and said two white boys were in there with ski masks.'"

Sebi also told us Jackson seemed a good father to his kids, but was haunted by the ghost of his own troubled childhood and the burdens of lifelong fame. "The people wanted someone they could worship," Sebi told us. "And he seemed to be the perfect person. So that may have had a lot to do with the poor young man."

Dr. Sebi says he finally quit treating the superstar, and he now claims Jackson owes him $380,000, for which he plans to sue.

Jackson's spokesperson has long denied Michael has been treated for any addiction and would not comment on Dr. Sebi.

Michael Jackson Defense Files Motion to Remove District Attorney
Mood:  bright


Monday, 04 October 2004

Attorney Robert Sanger filed a motion on Monday to remove Santa Barbara County district attorney's office from the Michael Jackson child molestation case.

Mr. Sanger said the motion was filed under seal because "the content of the motion includes reference to details in under-seal material including discovery materials, grand jury transcripts, investigative reports, exhibits and identities of witnesses."

Much of the proceedings have been kept under seal by Judge Rodney Melville.

It has long been believed that District Attorney Thomas Sneddon had a personal vendetta against Mr. Jackson. Motions to remove a district attorney are based on claims of personal involvement and conflict of interest.

"The odds of being successful are very slim," said criminal defense attorney Steve Cron. "It would be highly unusual for a judge to take the whole district attorney's office off a case." Mr. Cron said that lawyers claim in such motions that the chief prosecutor is so personally involved in the case that he can't make fair decisions.

Loyola Law Professor Laurie Levenson said that if the motion were granted and upheld on appeal, the state attorney general's office would have to take over the case.

"This was a natural motion to file," she said. "Even if the chances of success are not great, it's worth taking a stab at it."

Source: AP/MJJForum Article

Accuser's DNA Not Found
Mood:  happy


04/10/2004

Results in the DNA testing which took place in the Michael Jackson Child Molestation Case have returned a result of negative according to "At Large with Geraldo Rivera". According to the show a source known only as "Peter Pan" revealed the information.

"Judge Melville has ordered the prosection to turn over any and all evidence by October 8th. The DNA results will be turned over to the defense this Friday."

Source: Geraldo / Fox

Jackson defense denies photo report
Mood:  irritated

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Michael Jackson's defense attorney said in a court-approved statement Tuesday that news reports about photographs reportedly seized from the singer's home are false and that the prosecution in the child-molestation case agrees.

The information was not specified, but defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr.'s statement followed a report by Los Angeles radio station KFI that among a half-dozen photos seized were images of a naked boy or boys.

KFI news director Chris Little said an attorney for Jackson called and asked for a retraction but was turned down.

"We stand by the story," Little said.

Parties in the Jackson molestation case are under a gag order, but Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville has allowed attorneys to comment on news reports in approved statements.

Mesereau read his statement in a law office in Birmingham, Ala., but took no questions from reporters.

"The Michael Jackson defense team has learned that information is circulating throughout the media regarding alleged photographs supposedly seized from Mr. Jackson's residence. That information is false. The prosecution has confirmed that it is false," Mesereau said.

"We demand an immediate retraction from any news or media organization that made such an announcement," he said.

Prosecution spokeswoman Susan Tellem said she had not spoken directly with Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, but she confirmed that Mesereau's statement had been approved by the court.

The KFI report, which cited unnamed sources, described a boy in a bathtub and a boy in a bed and said that it was not clear if each picture showed the same boy.

The station reported that the photographs were referred to in court Friday during a hearing in which the defense is challenging some of the seizures authorities made.

During the hearing, prosecutor Ron Zonen said items taken from Jackson's Neverland Ranch estate included six photos of a boy.

"It's very apparent looking at those items why we seized them," he said, without elaborating.

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

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


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Jackson's Family & Fans Support Unwavering as Defense Confronts Mother of Accuser
Mood:  special
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Author: Team MJJsource

In a mass show of unwavering support, the Jackson Family arrived, to the cheers of their fans, in a convoy of black SUV?s Friday morning to stand behind Michael as he faced the mother of his accuser.

Michael Jackson?s defense team questioned the mother of his accuser Friday, hoping to discredit her as a witness by highlighting contradictions in a sworn statement and documents filed with the court. Defense attorneys also sought to prove prosecutorial misconduct on the part of the district attorney?s office. Mr. Jackson watched intently as Jane Doe began a defiant testimony during which she loudly sighed, referred to her ordeal as "this nightmare," and accused a courtroom spectator of rudely whispering.

Jane Doe also testified she did not know why she was called to the witness stand, she stated that she believed the purpose of Friday's hearing was "just to bring me more torture."

Mr. Mesereau opened the hearing by raising doubts about the mother's credibility, asking her about molestation allegations he said she made against her ex-husband in the past as well as previous litigation, including charging J.C. Penney with false imprisonment. Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville ruled that those allegations were irrelevant for now.

The defense attorney then tried to show that the woman and prosecutors should have known that private investigator Bradley Miller was working for Mr. Jackson?s previous attorney, Mark Geragos, when Miller's office was raided.

Mr. Mesereau referred repeatedly to a transcript of an interview between Bradley Miller and the mother on Feb. 16, 2003, which was conducted only days after her son appeared with Mr. Jackson on a television special. He noted that the transcript stated Miller told her at the beginning and at end of the interview that he was working for "specifically an attorney named Mark Geragos who works for Michael Jackson." Jane Doe wagged her finger, argued and asked repeatedly for clarification during nearly three hours of testimony.

She refused to answer directly when repeatedly asked if the document was false. "I'm not denying it was said. I'm saying I don't remember," the woman testified.

Mesereau seemed exasperated when the woman said she didn't understand some of his questions. When he asked if Miller told her he worked for Geragos, she repeatedly said of Miller, "He's your guy."

At one point, the judge asked her whether she believed the transcript was false. She repeated that "Frank" had told her Miller was part of Mr. Jackson's security team and was his private investigator.

As Mesereau asked again and again about the interview transcript, he commented to the witness, "We'll see what the tape says."

She replied, "The tape says the same thing as the paper, but by their mouths they said different." Jane Doe often stared at the ceiling and at breaks during testimony, bowed her head and clasped her hands as if in prayer. Once, after Judge Melville coughed, she interrupted testimony moments later to say she was concerned about his cough.

She was unable to recall the length of a recent meeting with a prosecutor at her home, sighing and explaining to Mesereau, "I do a lot of staying up at night ? "

When asked other questions, she stroked her chin, wrinkled her brow, shut her eyes and craned her head before answering. Mesereau asked if it were true that she couldn't remember her age when she testified before the grand jury, but prosecutors successfully objected.

Mr. Jackson?s defense team has made Doe's credibility a crucial issue in the case. They contend that she saw the chance to rake in a fortune by fabricating the accusations involving her son, a recovering cancer patient who was 12 at the time of the visit.

Mesereau has previously called the woman a liar in court declaring, "She made statements that her children can sue Michael Jackson after they turn 18. She said she is not after money then she says she is after money. She has hired numerous lawyers and used resumes for work that show she is sophisticated in investigation and prosecution and can supervise surveillance."

The court was not told what the Jane Doe?s job was. But Mesereau said she knew how to file lawsuits and had once accused her ex-husband of molesting one of her sons and falsely imprisoning him in Los Angeles.

Later in the afternoon, attorneys for both sides presented arguments to the judge over whether authorities went beyond what they had warrants to seize in searches of Miller's office and Neverland on Nov. 18, 2003.

Defense attorney Steve Cochran argued that prosecutors had gone to absurd lengths to justify taking some of the items and searching some parts of Neverland.

Prosecutors conceded that some items should not have been taken.

The combative hearing ended without a ruling being given on the seizure of evidence. Judge Melville said he would provide his ruling in writing at a later date. The next scheduled court date is October 14th.

As they broke for lunch, Mesereau, with Michael and the entire Jackson family standing behind him, read a heartfelt statement. He said the singer now regrets paying to settle two past claims of child molestation.

?Greed begets greed,? Mesereau stated, ?Mr. Jackson now realizes that the advice he received was wrong. He should have fought these actions to the bitter end and vindicated himself. The recent publicity about these settlements is unfair and damaging to him, his family and his dedication to the world?s children. The false charges he is facing will be battled in a court of law within our justice system. He is innocent and will be vindicated.

STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY THOMAS A. MESEREAU, JR.
Mood:  happy

Friday, September 17, 2004

Regretfully, we are compelled to vigorously respond to numerous and false statements being made about Mr. Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson was recognized as a musical genius as a child. His life and development were devoted to cultivating his musical talents and extraordinary gifts. Discipline, hard work, and a desire to heal and better this world through his creativity were emphasized throughout his youth.

It was recognized very early that Michael Jackson?s musical talent and genius could generate many millions of dollars to him and others around him. From the time he was a little boy, others have sought to exploit and take advantage of his creative talent and inherent goodness.

Mr. Jackson has donated large sums of money around the world to foster the interests and welfare of our world?s children. Early in his life, he learned and believed that while others sought to exploit and take advantage of his vulnerabilities and idealism, children did not.

Believing that children are the true example of God?s beauty, innocence and purity, Michael has devoted much of his life to helping the world?s children. He has donated millions of dollars to healing children with disease, helping children with AIDS, and traveling the world to emphasize the importance and welfare of our children. He would never harm a child.

Mr. Jackson has been a target of frivolous lawsuits throughout his career. To date, well over a thousand ridiculous lawsuits have been filed or threatened against Mr. Jackson for all kinds of reasons by those who sought to obtain money by exploiting his achievements and love for people. None of these claims involved allegations that he ever harmed a child. However, they involved, for the most part, creative and outrageous attempts to take money from Mr. Jackson. Throughout his career, Mr. Jackson?s desire to create and help our world has been subjected to efforts to exploit, undermine and take advantage of this wonderful human being.

Mr. Jackson has been repeatedly advised by those who stood to make fortunes in his business affairs to pay money, rather than face certain false allegations. As a result, many years ago, he did pay money, rather than litigate, two false allegations that he had harmed children. People who intended to earn millions of dollars from his record and music promotions did not want negative publicity from these lawsuits interfering with their profits.

These two false allegations must be placed in a proper perspective. Mr. Jackson has interacted with millions of children. Many millions of children around the world love Michael Jackson and never alleged that he harmed them in any way.

Those who wanted to profit from his good deeds and vulnerabilities were also threatening to destroy his ability to raise his own children and to champion the welfare, integrity, humanity and interests of children around the world. Michael Jackson occupies a world where his privacy is continually violated.

Michael Jackson now regrets making these payments. Nevertheless, these efforts to settle are now being used against him regardless of the merits or the truth behind them. These settlements were entered into with one primary condition. That condition was that Mr. Jackson never admitted any wrongdoing. Mr. Jackson always denied doing anything wrong.

Mr. Jackson had hoped to buy peace in the process. He was advised that while these sums of money appeared large, they were actually very small compared to money he could make in music. Mr. Jackson has earned well over one billion dollars in his career. Placed in this perspective, they were very small sums, indeed.

Greed begets greed. Mr. Jackson now realizes that the advice he received was wrong. He should have fought these actions to the bitter end and vindicated himself. The recent publicity about these settlements is unfair and damaging to him, his family and his dedication to the world?s children. The false charges he is facing will be battled in a court of law within our justice system. He is innocent and will be vindicated.


Thomas A. Mesereau, Jr.

Jackson hearing tense as accuser's mother testifies
Mood:  cool

By STEVE CHAWKINS
Los Angeles Times

9/18/2004


SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The mother of Michael Jackson's young accuser testified at the pop entertainer's pretrial hearing Friday amid defense suggestions that she is a greed-driven opportunist and chronic liar.
Although the woman known in court as Jane Doe was subpoenaed to testify only on a dry, evidentiary issue, her appearance in the packed courtroom made for high drama.

Twenty feet away from the witness stand in Santa Maria Superior Court, Jackson sat at the defense table, staring at the 36-year-old woman in her black jacket and simple white blouse. He was clad in a resplendent ivory three-piece suit and decked with glittering watch chains. Six of his siblings, also dressed in white, occupied the courtroom's first two rows.

Jackson and Doe said nothing to each other. It had been more than two years since she and her family had stayed at his palatial Neverland estate, where she now says they were held captive and her son was molested.

Doe blessed herself with the sign of the cross before taking the stand. At each break, she propped her head on her hands and prayed.

If she sought guidance, she needed it to withstand a two-hour grilling by defense attorney Tom Mesereau. At times, she appeared evasive, suspicious and forgetful.

Unable to recall the length of a recent meeting at her home with a prosecutor, she sighed deeply and explained to Mesereau: "I do a lot of staying up at night . . .."

Asked other questions, she stroked her chin, wrinkled her brow, shut her eyes and craned her head before answering. Mesereau asked if it were true that she couldn't remember her age when she testified before the grand jury, but prosecutors successfully objected.

The defense has made Doe's credibility a crucial issue in the case against Jackson. They contend Doe saw the chance to rake in a fortune by fabricating the accusations about her son, a recovering cancer patient who was 12 at the time of the visit. Prosecutors say Jackson, who has pleaded not guilty, is a merciless predator.

At issue Friday was whether Doe told Santa Barbara County prosecutors that Bradley Miller, a Beverly Hills private investigator, worked for Jackson's former attorney, Mark Geragos. Police seized tapes and documents during a search of Miller's office in November. Jackson's attorneys contend that using those items in court would violate attorney-client confidentiality.

Doe said she knew of Miller only as a member of Jackson's security team, despite a tape-recorded interview she did with him in February 2003. Made shortly after the devastating British TV documentary on Jackson's life, the tape begins with Miller identifying himself as "a licensed private investigator working for Geragos & Geragos, specifically for Mark Geragos, who is a lawyer for Michael Jackson."

Doe seemed to deny the accuracy of the transcript. After further questioning, she backpedaled. "I don't remember," she said. "Now I know who Mark Geragos is. Then it didn't mean nothing to me."

Doe repeatedly asked Mesereau to rephrase his questions, saying they were confusing. Asked if she knew the hearing's purpose, she replied: "Just to bring more torture on me and my children."

Clearly exasperated at times, Mesereau failed to get any admissions from Doe about the relationship between Geragos and Miller. Even so, he managed to make damaging points that strayed far from the hearing's ostensible purpose.

Although Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville cut him off, he asked Doe about previous litigation, including charging J.C. Penney with false imprisonment and her ex-husband with abusing one of her children.

Michael's Courtroom Face Off
Mood:  energetic

September 17, 2004

The world-famous pop star MICHAEL JACKSON, who's facing child molestation charges, arrived in a Santa Maria court Friday to face off against the mother of the boy who is accusing him.

Shortly after the proceedings concluded at noon, Jackson attorney THOMAS MESEREAU made a statement -- with the Jackson family behind him -- addressing previous settlements the pop star had made with other accusers. He also said, "The charges [Jackson] faces are false and will be battled in a court of law within our justice system. He is innocent and will be vindicated."

In the morning, the accuser's mother took the stand to undergo a series of questions about whether or not she knew private investigator BRADLEY MILLER was an employee of Jackson's former attorney MARK GERAGOS when his office was searched by prosecutors and law enforcement. She testified that she did not remember if he told her he worked for Jackson, but she did believe he worked for the singer. She also answered questions about her and her family's alleged, false imprisonment at Jackson's Neverland ranch.

According to an ET source, the mother was described as evasive and nervous, and at one point she stopped cold in her testimony because she thought she heard whispering in the Jackson camp that was sitting right in front of her, and said that the whispering was throwing her off. When asked if she knew what the purpose of the hearings were, the mother of the accuser said that the purpose was just to bring more torture to her and her children. This is also the first time the accuser's mother has come face to face with Jackson's mother. Incidentally, there was a paramedic in the courtroom in case of emergency.

Like the most recent hearing, Michael and his family members, including brother JERMAINE and sisters JANET and LaTOYA JACKSON, arrived to the proceedings wearing all white.

On Thursday, the defense argued that the items taken in the search of the office, as well as Neverland Ranch, including a calendar, computers and tapes, should not be allowed into evidence because they were taken improperly and that the office should have never been searched due to the attorney-client privilege of confidentiality.

Jackson is not required to attend the court hearing, but in August also appeared in court when Santa Barbara District Attorney TOM SNEDDON testified.

In April, Jackson was booked on a 10-count indictment and charged with committing lewd acts on a child, attempting a lewd act and administering an intoxicating agent. He is free on $3 million bail and has pleaded innocent to all of the charges. His trial is scheduled to begin in January.

For the latest on the Jackson case, check out tonight's ET!

Uncle of Ex-Jackson Accuser Tells All
Mood:  loud
Topic: Prosecutor Press Release

Mon Sep 13, 5:20 PM ET

By Josh Grossberg

For those following the soap opera that is Michael Jackson (news)'s child molestation case, here's another thriller for you?new revelations about his 1993 molestation probe.


The boy who accused the popster of sexually assaulting him more than a decade ago still refers to Jackson as "the Devil in God's clothes," according to his uncle.


In an exclusive interview with NBC's Dateline to promote his new tell-all tome, All That Glitters: The Crime and the Cover-up, Ray Chandler disclosed details about the Gloved One's alleged seduction of his nephew, including why the family refused to bring molestation charges and opted for a multimillion-dollar payout.


The uncle, who had no part of the estimated $20 million settlement, played audiotapes he made with the boy's father that paint a disturbing portrait of Jackson at the time of the scandal.


In the recordings, made by Chandler with his older brother's knowledge and made available to Dateline's producers, the father is heard expressing sympathy for the then 35-year-old King of Pop, believing the relationship he struck up with his 13-year-old son in the fall of 1992 was strictly platonic.


"He's childlike. He's a child. Nothing to fear," the father said on one tape. "You put that together with the way he looks...and you feel sorry for him, okay. And you know that he--this tells you that he grew up an intensely lonely person."


According to Dateline, the pair began spending more time together.


Jackson invited the boy to sleep over at his Neverland Ranch and the entertainer, in turn, would spend the night in the boy's bedroom at the suburban home where he lived with his mother. That was in addition to showering both mother and child with expensive gifts and sending them abroad on lavish all-expenses paid vacations.


The uncle said his brother realized the singer might have had other intentions after one day finding his son cuddling with Jackson in his bed with the star's hand resting above the sheets atop the boy's groin area.


Terrified and angry because he hadn't put a halt to their relationship, the father went to court to try and gain custody of the child from his ex-wife. It was during that legal skirmish that the boy reportedly admitted to his father that Jackson sexually abused him--including kissing, fondling, masturbation and oral sex--and warned him not to speak about it or the police would send him to jail.


The father eventually confronted the Moonwalker at a Los Angeles hotel, with the boy present in the room, but Jackson denied the molestation allegations. In another recording, the father described how his son's body language and Jackson's blase indifference belied those denials.


"[My son] was not different than a little fawn out in the woods at night that gets caught in the headlights," said the father. "You could see the fear in the eyes. Anybody could see that."


In the end, however, the boy's father didn't go to the police, because he feared the publicity that would envelop them should the allegations be made public. Instead, the boy ended up coming clean about the alleged abuse to a psychiatrist, who promptly notified the authorities, per California law.


Ultimately, Chandler said Jackson's superstar status blinded the parents to the point where they absconded from their parental responsibilities--while Jackson's own child-like demeanor helped him cover up any alleged misconduct.


The uncle told Dateline that the family did their best to bring charges against Jackson, but decided to drop the probe and agree to a multimillion-dollar settlement once it was clear authorities would not protect their anonymity.


Earlier this month, Dateline also reported that Jackson paid more than $2 million to the son of a onetime employee around the same time he settled with Chandler's nephew.


The music legend's camp declined to comment on the report.


At the time of the settlement, however, Jackson proclaimed his innocence and the rest was HIStory--at least until the latest allegations of child molestation surfaced against him.

As for his alleged victim, the unidentified boy is now 24 and has undergone extensive therapy. He recently graduated college and is dating.

As for Cahndler, he's no longer close with his brother because of an unrelated family rift. But he said he wrote the self-published book not to cash in but to get the facts about Michael out in the open as he sees them.

All That Glitters: The Crime and the Cover-Up is scheduled to hit bookstores on Tuesday.

Debbie Rowe is exclusively on the ET set!
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Prosecutor Press Release

Exclusive: Debbie Rowe Responds to Your Letters

September 17, 2004

This week on ET, we introduced audiences to the real DEBBIE ROWE behind the facade: we were invited exclusively into her $2 million, Beverly Hills mansion, met her beloved dogs and good friends -- and even accompanied her into the doctor's office for a cosmetic makeover!

Viewers from around the world expressed their support and concern for Debbie on ETonline. Now, MICHAEL JACKSON's former wife responds to your well wishes directly from the ET set on Stage 28 with MARY HART!

"It's nice to be able to say what I've wanted to say," Debbie tells Mary. "I really appreciate you guys doing it and thank you very much."

With reactions from viewers ranging as far as Sweden, Greece and even Serbia, people have been watching Debbie's struggle to create a new life for herself from all around the world and have responded to her story. The positive, encouraging response was incredible.

"Thank you very much, guys, it's very sweet," said a touched Debbie. "I don't see my life as being any different than anybody else in the sense that I have a home, and I'm very happy, and I have my pets, and I have my horses, and I have school, and I'm not unlike most people."

A woman who has been under constant media scrutiny ever since she married Jackson and gave him custody of their two children, PARIS and PRINCE MICHAEL, the former dermatology nurse is working hard to put the past behind her and live a life of normalcy. She's currently taking piano lessons and getting a degree in forensics along with a degree in psychology.

"I'm in transition; I'm changing," says Debbie. "I'm getting back into the horse business and I've got my school and I've got the dogs. Growing up, maybe. I don't know."

Earlier this week, we accompanied her as she received micro-dermabrasion, lash tinting, eyebrow and eyeliner tattooing and Thermage at the Woodglen Institute of Aesthetics in Glendora, CA. "I said yeah, bring it on," reports Debbie. "This procedure was great." But Debbie also has a few choice words on extreme makeovers.

"I don't like the extreme makeovers; I have a serious problem with those shows," she says. "I think they're dangerous. Everything that I've had done has been done over a course of four months, and it's very little, because a little bit at a time can make a big difference."

Watch ET for more with Debbie exclusively on the ET set!

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.

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


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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.