Posted on 11/19/2003 6:35:37 AM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Police who searched Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch amid allegations of child molestation were armed with an arrest warrant for the pop icon, NBC television said.
The network cited "many sources" as having seen the arrest warrant for Jackson when authorities swooped down on his ranch near Santa Barbara, California, on Tuesday.
The search, apparently for evidence related to child abuse allegations, continued overnight into Wednesday, NBC said.
Police said they would announce details of the search at 11:00 am (1900 GMT) Wednesday.
Jackson family lawyer Brian Oxfam confirmed reports that the raid was sparked by new child abuse allegations against the 45-year-old father of three.
"The search warrant that was served at Neverland ranch early yesterday morning indicated that there was a 12-year-old boy who was a complaining witness concerning sexual molestation accusations," Oxfam told NBC.
"We don't know the identity of the child, we don't know the specifics of the accusations, and to all intents and purposes, we simply are investigating this and we do not know what it is all about at this point," he added.
The highly publicized swoop -- which took place while Jackson was in Las Vegas, Nevada -- reignited suspicions that have been swirling around Jackson since he was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy 10 years ago.
Between 60 and 70 investigators armed with a search warrant flooded the sprawling estate near Santa Barbara at 8:30 am (1630 GMT) Tuesday, Senior Sheriff's Deputy Tim Gracey told AFP.
The raid coincided with Jackson's release of "Number One," his first album since "Invincible" flopped last year.
After all these years, no one can say that they didn't know what was going on in Jackson's bedroom.
The boy's parents were probably hoping for a multi-million dollar settlement, and when the deal fell through they went to the cops.
Jacko: 'Children sleep in my bed'
Outrage has followed the latest revelations from Michael Jackson that children share his bedroom at night.
The singer has admitted he has formed a close friendship with a 12-year-old boy, Gavin Arvizo, who regularly spends the night at his Neverland mansion. (Picture: Living with Michael Jackson - a Tonight Special, ITV1)
Gavin said he was suffering from cancer when he first met Jackson, but that his relationship with the star has helped to cure him.
Jackson said he always slept on the floor when Gavin was there.
More than 14 million TV viewers in the UK saw the revelations, made in an ITV1 documentary, Living with Michael Jackson - a Tonight Special.
And broadcast rights have been bought up for the US and Europe. Child care authorities in the US have promised to look closely at the film when it is broadcast there.
Asked in if he and Gavin ever shared a bed, Jackson replied: "No. But I have slept in a bed with many children."
He said: "It's not sexual. We're going to sleep. I tuck them in and I put a little music on and when it's story time I read a book.
"We go to sleep with the fire on and I give them hot milk and cookies. It's very charming and very sweet. It's what the whole world should do."
Gavin said his parents are happy about his friendship with the star, who phones him often in a series of late-night calls.
When told many people would think it inappropriate for a 44-year-old man to share a bed with a young boy, Jackson dismissed them as "ignorant" and "wacky".
"Why can't you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone," he said.
"It's a beautiful thing. It's very right, it's very loving. Because what's wrong with sharing a love?"
His comments were made in the programme in which award-winning Tonight journalist Martin Bashir was given unprecedented access.
Bashir said he was "astonished" to discover Jackson still enjoyed close relationships with young boys.
Jackson was once the undisputed King of Pop, but his reputation never recovered from the scandal which shocked the world in 1994.
He was accused of molesting 13-year-old Jordy Chandler - allegations he has always denied - and paid the boy's parents £18 million to drop a civil case against him.
The other children the star says he has shared a bed with include former child actor Macauley Culkin, his brother Kieran and the Culkin boys' sisters. He said it was always the children's choice to sleep in his bedroom and he was happy to oblige.
raordinary interview in a web chat next week.
Authorities are negotiating with Jackson for his voluntary surrender.
"It's close to midnight...."
CAUSE THIS IS THRILLER! THRILLER NIGHT!!
http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=1532154
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Section 288.
(a) Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act, including any of the acts constituting other crimes provided for in Part 1, upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.
[snip]
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=26816720565+6+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve
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