REPORTS: ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR MICHAEL JACKSON (via Drudge)

CTV ^ | November 18, 2003

[RWR8189]

Pop star Michael Jackson is again at the centre of a police investigation. About 20 officers searched his California ranch on Tuesday as part of an ongoing but undisclosed criminal investigation. Jackson was not home.

Cable channel Court TV said the investigation stems from allegations of sexual abuse brought by a 12-year-old boy against the 45-year-old Jackson.

Up to 70 investigators from the Santa Barbara County sheriff's and district attorney's offices entered Jackson's sprawling Neverland Ranch outside of Santa Barbara on Tuesday morning. No immediate arrests were made.

Court TV reporter Diane Dimond, who is on the scene, says a source told her that police not only had a search warrant, but an arrest warrant. Dimond told CNN's Larry King that had Jackson been at the ranch, the warrant would have been executed.

Jackson's spokesman, Stuart Backerman, said the singer was not at his ranch but was with his three young children in Las Vegas filming a music video.

"We cannot comment on law enforcement's investigation because we do not yet know what it is about. Michael will, as always, cooperate fully with authorities in any investigation," the Backerman statement said.

Jackson denounced media coverage of the search in a statement released by Backerman to The Associated Press.

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

The search came on the same day Epic Records released Number Ones, a greatest hits collection featuring Jackson's new single, One More Chance.

Nine years ago, a 14-year-old reached an out-of-court agreement to settle a lawsuit accusing the singer of molesting him in 1992. No criminal charges were ever brought and Jackson has maintained his innocence.

Police dropped an investigation into the case after the settlement was reached and the boy made it clear that he would not participate in any criminal prosecution of the pop star.

In February, Jackson revealed in a British television documentary that he shared his Neverland bedroom with young boys and made his children wear masks in public.

"Why can't you share your bed? It's the most loving thing to share your bed with somebody," Jackson said.

The frank revelations sparked calls for an investigation by California child welfare authorities at the Neverland ranch, where Jackson has built theme-park style rides, a zoo and a mini railroad track which he throws open to local children.

In June, Jackson settled a $12 million US breach of contract lawsuit by his former top adviser, avoiding a trial that threatened to spill details of his personal life into open court.

Jackson is also connected to Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano, who began serving federal prison time Monday for possessing illegal explosives.

Pellicano worked for Jackson, through his legal team, during the 1993-94 police investigation into child abuse accusations.

Pellicano is under investigation on suspicion that he secretly and illegally wiretapped the conversations of celebrities and their lawyers.

\Dimond told the New York Post that she was contacted by the FBI last week. She said agents informed her that her phone was monitored by Pellicano back in 1994, while she was working as a reporter for Hard Copy and covering accusations by a young boy that he was molested by Jackson.

The New York Times reported last weekend that the Pellicano investigation is widening. Managers, actors, businessmen and lawyers are being questioned, and in some cases subpoenaed, by the federal government.

On Nov. 26, CBS is scheduled to air a Jackson special consisting mainly of old concert footage.

[Burkeman1]

LOL! Ok Ok- sorry.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

You mean the Door-to-door Jehova's Witness formerly known as Prince?

Wot? He's a Jehovah's Witness? When did this happen?

[Lady Eileen]

1. do you think the 14 year old that took the payoff 10 years ago feels any guilt that he kept the door open for another victem for 14 million bucks?

I hope so.

[Lib-Lickers 2]

Hell no,, $20 million bucks for a lil MJ dwiddle?,,, LOL hell no!!

[lonevoice]

C.) Neither

Any man who knows that millions of people have deep suspicions that he's a pedophile, yet continues making public statements about sleeping with little boys, is probably a sociopath. He absolutely believes he's bullet-proof and that laws don't apply to him. He's got such a deeply held belief that he can do whatever he pleases, it's not even going to occur to him that he might actually be found guilty and go to jail.

[sharktrager]

Belgium

[motexva]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong - I think I heard ABC Radio News at 11 pm CDT report that they have erected lights "around the property" to aid in the execution of the search warrant.

This means they are searching outside, right?

Why would they search outside, at night? Are they looking for a hostage? A body?

[dagnabbit]

Dunno. Someone at FR posted a newspaper account not too long ago of how some local residents were very surprised to find Prince on their doorstep proselytizing on behalf of JW.

[dagnabbit]

The really good news is, that if Wacko Jacko gets arrested: We won't have to worry about hearing another word from the Democratic Presidential wannabes - who will be totally drowned out by the the Media Circus of the Century.

[dougherty]

I believe that's what I heard as well. What really stood out was when the announcer mentioned the arrest warrant. Maybe they found some nude photos of kids at Neverland? Who knows.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

The really good news is, that if Wacko Jacko gets arrested: We won't have to worry about hearing another word from the Democratic Presidential wannabes - who will be totally drowned out by the the Media Circus of the Century.

Agreed. Kobe and Peterson will have nothing on this one.

[philetus]

Michael Jackson died years ago and what you see walking around is animated silicone.

[Swordmaker]

Peterson and the Gubernator have just been exiled from the front page of all the tabloids!!!

[GOPJ]

Hollyweird's getting weirder -- and that's not easy to do:

Dimond told the New York Post that she was contacted by the FBI last week. She said agents informed her that her phone was monitored by Pellicano back in 1994, while she was working as a reporter for Hard Copy and covering accusations by a young boy that he was molested by Jackson.

The New York Times reported last weekend that the Pellicano investigation is widening. Managers, actors, businessmen and lawyers are being questioned, and in some cases subpoenaed, by the federal government.

[WackyKat]

I bet Jackson will flee the country.
Maybe not now, but if the evidence starts looking really bad for him, he will run.
After all, it worked for Roman Polanski

[GOPJ]

Underground place with the secret videos? This keeps getting stranger.

Why would they search outside, at night? Are they looking for a hostage? A body?

[motexva]

ABC Radio News reported warrants for "multiple cases of child molestation."

Trying to decide what Jackson will do now, he's supposedly in Vegas. I would give it 30% he kills himself, 30% he lams it and 40% he tries to beat the rap in court.

[BOBWADE]

He should have stuck to grabbing himself instead of small children. He would have a rough time in prison looking like Diana Ross and all, I am sure his dance card would be filled. HEHE

[paulklenk]

Your comment reminds me of a story:

Years and years ago, my brother played an awful trick on some coworkers, one in particular. He said, off-handedly, "Can you believe Michael Jackson killed himself?"

Well, the woman he told had a big mouth and was gullible, and in no time she had the entire department in an uproar, running around, calling their friends, listening to the radio. You'd have thought the president had been shot. He enjoyed every minute of it.

Served the gullible gal right.

[WackyKat]

Prison rape is almost as sick as child molestation.
You seem to enjoy the thought.
I wonder why that is? HEHE.