Arrest warrant issued for Jackson

This London ^

[Happy2BMe]

This is LONDON 19/11/03 - News and city section

Arrest warrant for Jackson By James Langton in New York, Evening Standard

An arrest warrant has been issued for Michael Jackson over new allegations of child abuse.

US police were reported to have been ready to handcuff the singer and take him into custody when they raided his Neverland Ranch in California.

According to TV reports, they were unable to serve the warrant because Jackson and his three children were in Las Vegas.

Investigators are expected to spend a second day at the estate, investigating claims of child molestation, believed to involve a boy of 12 or 13.

After arriving with a search warrant yesterday, more than 60 officers from the Santa Barbara County sheriff 's department spent the day gathering evidence for what was described as "an ongoing criminal investigation".

Police remain tight-lipped about the allegations which were made in a sealed court affidavit. They arrived in a caravan of vehicles including an ambulance, mobile crime laboratory and a portable lavatory.

The investigation is headed by district attorney Thomas Sneedon, who examined earlier claims of child abuse by Jackson in 1993.

Although Jackson avoided prosecution, he later made a multi-million-dollar outofcourt settlement to 14-year-old Jordy Chandler who claimed he had been molested by the singer during sleepovers at the mansion.

The two cases are said to be unrelated, although police say the first case still remains open.

One report said the boy in the latest allegations had been talking to prosecutors for several weeks and may also have tried to reach a settlement.

Police say they will hold a press conference later today. Jackson was staying at the Mirage hotel in Las Vegas at the time of the raid, recording a video. His new greatest hits CD, Number Ones, was released yesterday.

Jackson's attorney Brian Oxman confirmed: "The Santa Barbara Sheriff 's Department did issue an arrest warrant. They will be working through myself to negotiate a surrender."

In a rambling statement released by the lawyer, Jackson, 45, said: "I've seen lawyers who do not represent me and spokespeople who do not know me speaking for me. These characters always seem to surface with a dreadful allegation just as another project, an album, a video, is being released."

He promised to cooperate with the investigation.

His friend, Uri Geller, said he was "very concerned" about the singer, adding: "He is very gullible and he is naive. I believe he is innocent."

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[cyncooper]

While I was glued to the tube during the "chase" my husband fell asleep!

[Peach]

My husband was never particularly interested in that case at all, a fact that to this day I find astounding but then he's not a wanna be lawyer. (okay - no lawyer jokes!)

[cyncooper]

Last question about what about parents who let their children go to Neverland Ranch and sleep over. Both say "Don't do it" and DA adds "None of our kids would be there".

[Darlin']

I think everyone is, or should be, concerned about that.

[maggief]

I wouldn't even let my child listen to his music. What are these parents thinking?!?

[StarFan]

I would bet most of us here didn't even know that he HAD a new CD coning out Hadn't a clue nor was I aware about his special with CBS. Deju moo all over again -- CBS, Geragos and Allred topping the news.

[cyncooper]

Agreed!

[cyncooper]

$$$

[Darlin']

Its worse than ironic.

[Jackie-O]

I can just feature those clay puppets of MG and Gloria on MTV Celebrity Death Match now! ;o)
My guess is that we will see MG all over the cable news talk shows now commenting on the MJ case...all the way up until a gag is issued!
This is yet another made for Hollywood high profile case of MG to sink his sharp pointed teeth into!

[Howlin]

One thing for sure, we're going to have something to watch during the winter months.........LOL.

I bet you anything Geragos asks for a fast trial for Scott 'cause the Petersons are running out of money!

[bk1000]

Saw the title and hoped it was for Jesse! Too bad...

[Jackie-O]

Fast trial for Snotty is okay by me as long as justice is swift and sure!

[Carolinamom]

I've read somewhere that his assets in the Beatles music have been mortgaged to the hilt. Saw him in a TV special where he "shopped" by pointing to every opulent vase, etc. in a high-end shop. Although I didn't keep tract of the $$$amount, it looked to be in the hundreds of thousands to possible a million.

[Carolinamom]

Genetics 101: blond hair and blue eyes are the result of recessive genes. Jackson, unless he is half caucasian, canNOT possibly have "fathered" these children.

[cyncooper]

I wonder where the other two properties were that had search warrants issued for.

A thought occurs to me that one of the properties may be for the boy's home--computers and letters, since the rumors have been that letters between the boy and Jackson were also retrieved at Neverland. Nachman on MSNBC just said he wondered about the two search warrants because they said they had been for properties in "Southern California" and Nachman said that wouldn't really apply to Santa Barbara to his mind. I think the boy involved lives in L.A..

And, gross speculation on my part, the story so far--based on rumors and media who have demonstrated they aren't the most reliable, so take it for what it's worth--is that the boy told a counselor about what was going on. It did not say his parents brought him to police. Also they emphasized in the press conference that now a child can be compelled to testify.

I at first discarded the idea one of the warrants would be for them if their house was opened voluntarily to police. But maybe they need one for legal reasons, or perhaps the cooperation isn't total. That is ONLY speculation on my part and I hope and pray these parents have one priority in their mind and that is the well-being of their son and seeing justice done.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Maybe he will try to cross the border to Mexico.

Too bad he isn't black. He could seek asylum in Africa.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I am convinced Geragos and Allred are in a death match..........LOL.

I used to think that Allred was the slimiest lawyer in America; Geragos is going after her crown!

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Meanwhile, MJ is making his way across the country to Justices Ginsberg and Kennedy's chambers for asylum.

Don't worry...Chief Moose will bring him in! /sarcasm

[Howlin]

He is so far ahead of her now that in her wildest dreams she could never catch up!