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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[dread78645]

Boys pants are half off.

Ya stole my joke. Dang-gummit!

"How to tell it's bedtime at Michael's house?
--When the big-hand touches the little hand ..."

[maggief]

[Howlin]

Press conference in about 30 minutes!

Fox has been reporting for about two hours that the police are "negotiating" for Jackson's arrest, whatever that means.

Reporters alluding to more than one child involved.

[Revolting cat!]

[Chad Fairbanks]

This should be interesting... :0) though, I'd rather see Fox using their resources for other stories... oh well...

[meanie monster]

Planet of the Apes comes to mind.

[Howlin]

I was hoping they'd discuss your memo memo!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Ha. Me too LOL... or at least ANY memo! ;0)

[Howlin]

Hiya, maggie!

[Howlin]

Somebody on MSNBC, either Hardball or Olbermann, IS going to discuss it tonight! Tune in!

[Revolting cat!]

[maggief]

[onyx]

I guess I'll have to clean the livingroom after all since the TV is in there.

[maggief]

Hi! I'm waiting for the press conference.

[Revolting cat!]

On to the unemployment line!

[Revolting cat!]

You too, my pretty!

[Miss Marple]

OK, OK, I will watch this thing. The only thing I want to know is that they are definitely taking those children away from him.

[meanie monster]

What will be his defense? INSANITY?

[Darlin']

"negotiating"

What do negotiate about an arrest ?

A Live Thread for the press conference has been started. HERE

[Marysecretary]

PLEEZ, GOD, LET IT BE HILLARY AND BILL, PLEEZ, O, PLEEZ. I promise to be a good girl for the rest of my life if you PLEEZ get rid of the Clintons.....