Wednesday November 19th authorities announced that an arrest warrant has been issued for Michael Jackson also know as the King Of Pop. He is being accused of an unspecified amount of multiple counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. Formal charges are expected to be filed after Thanksgiving.
Jackson continued to work on the final touches of his current video despite the fact that the fact that the Santa Barbara District Attorney Thomas W. Sneddon Jr demanded his return and the fact he had a warrant out for his arrest.
Jackson's attorney Mark Geragos made formal statements claiming that Jackson came back to confront the charges head-on, and Michaels spokesperson Stuart Backerman calling the current allegations "outrageous."
The Santa Barbara Sheriff Jim Anderson said that authorities were "in contact" with Jackson's lawyers and that Michael Jackson had been given the opportunity to surrender "within a specified period of time."
The following statement was made on Nov 19th, 2003 by Jim Anderson:Yesterday morning at around 8:30 a.m., investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office served a search warrant at the Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos. Simultaneous to the service of the warrant at the Neverland Ranch, two search warrants were also served in Southern California. Approximately seventy investigators from the Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney's Office were involved in the service of the warrant at the Neverland Ranch. The operation was concluded at around 11:00 P.M. last night. The service of these warrants was part of an ongoing investigation alleging criminal misconduct on the part of Michael Jackson.
The basis for this investigation regarding Mr. Jackson involves allegations of Child Molestation, 288 (a) of the California Penal Code.
Mr. Jackson has also been directed to surrender his passport when he is taken into custody.
While we appreciate the level of interest generated by this case, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department is committed to maintain the integrity of this investigation with respect to both legal and ethical considerations.
We will not be commenting on issues specific to this investigation beyond what has already been released.
Jim Anderson,SHERIFF
November 20th 2003. Michael Jackson arrived by private jet at the Santa Barbara Airport around noon. The self proclaimed king of Pop was then immediately taken into custody by the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department at the airport and then was transported to the Main Jail in handcuffs to be booked.
He was formally booked on charges of violation of section 288 (a) of the California Penal Code. Even though $3 million was the amount of bail set for his case, he was able to immediately post it and was out of the facility in less than 50 minutes.
Michael returned back to Vegas by private jet as soon as he did The news stations went live again, and now they were broadcasting Jackson's journey through the city's streets for two hours as if it was the OJ chase. The fans were going nuts with Hundreds followed the motorcade all trying to get a glimpse of the king of pop or to shake Jackson's hand.
Obviously the story does not end here as Mr. Jackson will be arraigned on the charges at Santa Barbara Superior Court at 8:30AM on January 9, 2004.
This off the wall episode in the life of the former member of the 70s rock band the Jackson five will end up being quite some thriller for Michael Jackson fans and haters alike.
What went wrong with this great musician who was at his peak of fame in the 70's and 80s? What are all these charges about? Will he moonwalk his way out of the courtroom a freeman or will he be looking at himself as the man in the mirror in a jail cell?
The charges Mr. Jackson is facing can carry a 2, 4, or 6 year jail terms if he is convicted for the multiple counts of Child Molestation.
Today November 21st Mr. Jackson was staying in seclusion for most of the day at a hotel and spa outside the city. I was told he was finishing work on a music video. Unfortunately I was unable to get the hotel manager to say if Jackson was a guest there.
Our sources tell us that other Members of Jackson's family also were at a recording studio in Vegas, apparently without him.
November 22nd 2003. The question of the day fans an reporters alike were asking was "Where is Michael?". Fans were and reporters were looking high an low for him and helicopters were still buzzing his ranch as well as other known "hideouts".
So where was the King of Pop? The answer was simple: putting the final touches on his song "One More Chance." on a sound stage.
Fans who did guess he was at the studio were carrying signs with messages of support and those who hated Michael Jackson carried signs of hate and screamed at some of the fans for still supporting him.
The 23rd of November proved to be another exciting day in the King of Pop saga with candle light vigils and shows of support for the entertainer around the world.
Weeping teens holding candle and home made signs and self styled imitators of the King of Pop were giving impromptu performances in the street. Music that Michael made spanning three decades could be heard playing from car radios and boom boxes.
Supporters of Michael and his staunchest critics kept asking the other reporters and me how this could have happened again.
Monday the 24th Michael Jackson released a website proclaiming again his innocence of the latest allegations made against him.
The site was the brainchild of Stuart Backerman who is Jackson spokesman. He did this so he could communicate directly with the news media and fans and avoid any statements made by others that claim that they are speaking on behalf of Michael Jackson.
Jackson stated that the site would serve as a source for "official communications on my case." Jackson went on to say that "any statement that does not appear on this website must be considered unauthorized.
Statements on his site include " As you know, the charges recently directed at me are terribly serious," Jackson goes on to say "They are, however, predicated on a big lie. This will be shown in court, and we will be able to put this horrible time behind us."
Regardless of how some of you may feel we have to remember that he is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and we have clearly seen that there has been world wide support for the King of Pop. This case will prove to be the court case of the century and I wouldn't miss it for anything!
In and expected move on November 25th, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Yaffe granted Michael Jackson a court order against the aircraft company XtraJet, which was attempting to sell a videotape made on November 20th of Michael and his attorney while they flew from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara which was taken without their knowledge and consent to the highest bidder.
Mark Geragos, Michael's attorney made the following statement: "The videotaping of my client conferring with me was illegal and outrageous, as was the aircraft company's attempt to sell that tape for profit… "This entire case is about cash, and anyone who believes differently is living in their own Neverland. We will be absolutely relentless in our pursuit of any and all extortionists regardless of how they try to gift wrap their lies in the cloak of justice. Michael is not going to be a piñata for every money-hungry publicity seeker to strike in the hopes of hitting it rich."
The judge's ruling prohibits XtraJet from releasing the tape until a further hearing which is set next month. We have been told that Jackson and his attorney are looking for a permanent prohibition.
Stuart Backerman, Jackson's spokesperson stated "Anyone watching this case can see that new lows are being hit every day. Motivated parties are taking obscene measures to injure Michael with false allegations. We will aggressively challenge the rogue's gallery of grifters who are seeking dividends from Michael's ordeal. There is a very real, human price being exacted here, and Michael will do what it takes to safeguard his family and his name."
I have to say that as a reporter I have seen and heard seen many terrible things over the years that makes me question the intent of my fellow reporters and journalists. I can only hope that no one would have bid for this tape which would be a slap in the face of American morals and the criminal justice system. Whether you believe he is innocent or guilty, everyone has the right to a fair trail and the ability to speak confidentially with their council. This is a basic freedom that all American weird or not, wealthy or not, famous or not deserve.
November 26th proved to be a day of even more revelations, twists and turns in the Michael Jackson case.
First there was the apology made by District Attorney Thomas W. Sneddon Santa Barbara County's top prosecutor. Apparently he was criticized for making the following remark to reporters during a news conference announcing the allegations against Jackson: "I hope that you all stay long and spend lots of money because we need your sales tax to support our offices."
DA Sneddon was quoted as saying "I think the criticism was valid...I think to some extent (the comment) was inappropriate. I feel bad about it because I should have known better."
Second Wade Robson, 21 An Australian entertainer who is now a choreographer and songwriter for Britney Spears and boy band 'N Sync, has come to the very public defense of Michael Jackson.
In an interview with Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper he stated he first met Jackson when he was five and their friendship had always been "creatively based." and that during a visit to Jackson's Neverland Ranch he shared a bed with the King of Pop when he was a small boy but nothing "strange" happened.
He was quoted as saying about Michael "He is on one level a genius, a creative artist, an intellectual man. But on the other hand, he is still a kid because he has never lived through regular things that men go through, that people go through in growing up."
"Everything in life is so complex, he just wanted something around that was simple - to hang out with kids," and that Michael had "no concept of reality".
Lastly, at that time Jackson was being booked on Nov. 20th, Lee Kevin Madden, 27 of Los Angeles, was arrested after allegedly getting aboard Michael Jackson's private jet when the Mr. Jackson flew into town. Santa Barbara police Sgt. Dave Gonzalez said Mr. Madden was discovered aboard the jet by Michael Jackson's security people and held for the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport patrol; Gonzalez also said Madden was booked for investigation of misdemeanor trespassing and released.
Madden had in his possession at the time of arrest a video camera, digital camera, notepad and clipboard, and claimed to be a reporter with the Splash Agency which identifies itself on its Web site as an independent entertainment news and picture agency, with it's corporate headquarters in London.
The splash website displayed aerial photos of Neverland ranch credited to "Lee Madden / Splash." Other photos the interior of an airplane with a hat atop a seat identified as Michaels hat, and an exterior shot of a jet in a hangar with individual descending its stairs identified as Jackson.
The possibility of a connection between the alleged trespass and the videotapes made of Michael and his lawyer was under investigation, but no connection had been made.
As of November 27th the Santa Barbara County District Attorney now says charges against Michael Jackson will not be filed until some time after Dec. 15. This give Michael and his lawyers so more time to do damage control and hopefully put the fear of God into anyone foolish enough to attempt to circulate any copies of the tapes that were made of Mr. Jackson and his lawyer on a private jet on the way to be booked in California last week.
If any portion of these tapes are released into public, in our opinion here at the King of Pop News, it would be almost impossible for Michael to get a fair trail.
More and more facts are coming to light about Jackson accuser and the family. Stuart Backerman, Jackson's spokesperson as well as the Santa Barbara County district attorney's office declined to comment about the past lawsuits involving the accuser's family.
The accusing family has been in two previous cases that involved abuse allegations: the first was a lawsuit in which they said they were battered by security guards at a mall, and a bitter divorce fight in which the father pleaded no contest to spousal abuse and child cruelty. The J.C. Penney Co. paid the family $137,500 to settle a lawsuit In November 2001. Court records show that the suit alleged in 1998 the security guards physically beat the boy, his mother and his brother in the mall parking lot after the boy left the JC Penney's carrying clothes that he allegedly hadn't been paid for. It was also clamed that the mother was sexually assaulted by one of the guards.
The boy's mother had filed for divorce shortly before the settlement in 2001. The father's attorney, Russell Halpern, said the mother had lied about the abuse and had a "Svengali-like" ability to make train her children to lie. Criminal charges were filed about the alleged abuse.
The wife had allegedly written a script for their children to use when they were questioned in a civil deposition. Halpern said "She wrote out all their testimony. I actually saw the script …I remember my client showing me, bringing the paperwork to me."
In 2002, the boy's father was charged with four counts of child cruelty, and one count each of injuring a child, making a threat and false imprisonment. The other charges were dismissed. We have also learned that the father pleaded no contest to spousal abuse in 2001.
November 28th. Yesterday it was reported during a Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless by Jamie Masada, owner of The Laugh Factory in West Hollywood, that the alleged victim of the latest child abuse charge is in extremely poor health that his remaining kidney is failing and that he needs a transplant. Masada said he saw the boy earlier this week at home where he is being treated except for his dialysis treatments.
Jamie Masada said he brought Jackson and the child together about two years ago when the child at that time was only given a few weeks to live due to an advanced form of cancer and it's complications. Doctors removed a large tumor from the boy's stomach and at the same time took out his spleen and one of his kidneys some time ago.
Since the search warrant was issue for Neverland, people has clamored to support the King of Pop. Some of the most outspoken supporters have been his family and friends such as his friend Elizabeth Taylor.
Most of the email we receive here is in support of Michael. The overwhelming response we have received is from the United States, Japan, India, and Brazil with most of the support coming to us from Europe,
Conspiracy theorists clam that raid on Michael Jackson's home was done purposely on the day his greatest hits album "Number Ones" was released. They also bring up the jovial demeanor of DA Tom Sneddon as he announced the charges. As we reported here Sneddon later apologized for his remarks.
Now the race card is being played even to the extent that Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson described his brother's arrest to a "lynching." and Jesse Jackson said the arrest was so "impeccably timed that it leads to even more suspicions. ... It seems aimed to destroy this media mogul."
Black Newsday columnist Sheryl McCarthy described Jackson as "the first celebrity to physically transform himself from a black person to a Caucasian, or a facsimile of one." With a changed face, hair, and skin color (Michael claims to have vitiligo a disease that causes pigment loss).
I personally find it surprising that someone who has basically tuned themselves from a black person to a white person receive such support and claims of racial discrimination from the black community.
What's your opinion about the race card being played?
November 29th. The latest development in the Jackson case maybe one of the most disturbing aspect of the case yet. It seems that with all of the negative publicity surrounding Michael Jackson that many charities, even schools and cities want nothing to do with the King of Pop and are shunning his past and present generosity and may not even accept gifts from him in the future.
Michael Jackson was listed in the 2000 Guinness Book of World Records as the world record holder for "most charities supported by a pop star." Wouldn't it be a shame if all the good that he has done over the years is forgotten or even outright whitewashed from society?
One example of the most outrageous behavior I have seen to date is that Gardner Street Elementary School a Hollywood elementary school that Jackson attended for three months in 1969 put up plywood to cover the first two words "Michael Jackson" on the "Michael Jackson Auditorium."
Olga Quinones, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District said parents brought up concerns at a meeting last week that the auditorium's name would bring the school "unwarranted attention."
Seems to be he has been tried and convicted even before he has even entered a court room. Lets hope more people come to their senses as even of he is found guilty why should the people who need his help not receive it?
November 30th. It has come to our attention that even more charities have tuned their back on the king of pop.
Michael Shetzer the director of corporate relations for the International Child Art Foundation removed a link from its website to an organization called Music for Giving. Charities receive a percentage of profits from every Jackson song downloaded there.
The other snub that came to our attention was the Bloomington Indiana high school marching band dropped the Jackson song "Thriller" from its Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade play list. The Band director Thomas Wilson told The New York Times "Thriller" would not be appropriate for the "morals and ideals" the parade represents.
Tomorrow we will examine Michael Jackson finances and alleged lack thereof.
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