ResinIII
11-18-2003, 05:44 PM
LOS OLIVOS, California (Nov. 18) - Investigators conducting a criminal probe swarmed Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch on Tuesday, a sheriff's spokesman said. The purpose of the search was not disclosed.
Jackson and his three young children were not at the ranch at the time of the raid, his spokesman, Stuart Backerman, told The Associated Press. He said that for three weeks Jackson and his family have been in Las Vegas, where Jackson was filming a video.
Backerman declined further comment, saying he still lacked detailed information about the purpose of the investigation.
More than 20 investigators from the Santa Barbara County sheriff's and district attorney's offices served a warrant about 8:30 a.m. as part of an ''ongoing criminal investigation,'' Sgt. Chris Pappas said in a prepared statement.
The district attorney's office had no comment, said legal secretary Debbie Popp.
The $12.3 million Santa Ynez Valley property, which has a mansion, its own zoo and amusement park with bumper cars, a merry-go-round and Ferris wheel, has often been the site of children's parties.
Nearly 10 years have passed since the 45-year-old singing superstar faced a child-molestation investigation in a case that never resulted in criminal charges.
The singer who had international hits with the albums ''Thriller'' (1982), ''Bad'' (1987) and ''Dangerous'' (1991), saw his career begin to collapse in 1993 amid allegations he molested a boy. Jackson maintained his innocence, and charges were never filed. He reportedly paid a multimillion-dollar settlement.
Jackson is also connected to Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano, who has begun serving federal prison time for possessing illegal explosives, and is being investigated about whether he secretly taped conversations of celebrities and their lawyers.
Pellicano, 59, reportedly worked for Jackson while the singer was under investigation for child molestation in the early 1990s.
As the raid was under way, Court TV reported that the warrant was tied to allegations brought by a 12-year-old boy. That could not immediately be confirmed by The Associated Press.
In a television documentary broadcast on ABC earlier this year, Jackson said he had slept in a bed with many children. ''When you say bed you're thinking sexual,'' the singer said. ''It's not sexual, we're going to sleep. I tuck them in. ... It's very charming, it's very sweet.''
As of last December, when Jackson interacted with young fans outside a lawsuit hearing in Santa Maria, Calif., he was still inviting children to his home for parties.
The search came on the same day Epic Records released ''Number Ones,'' a greatest hits collection featuring Jackson's new single, ''One More Chance.'' On Nov. 26, CBS is scheduled to air a Jackson special consisting mainly of old concert footage.
Jackson caused an international uproar last year when he displayed his baby, Prince Michael II, to fans by dangling him briefly from a fourth-floor balcony in Germany, where he had gone to accept an award.
Jackson called the incident a ''terrible mistake,'' and Berlin authorities said the actions were not punishable.
Not much is known about Prince Michael II, whose mother has not been identified. The singer's 6-year-old son, Prince Michael I, and 5-year-old daughter, Paris, were born during his marriage to Debbie Rowe, his plastic surgeon's nurse, which ended in 1999.
He was also married to Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis's daughter, between 1994 and 1996.
Jackson routinely keeps the children's heads covered with cloth while escorting them in public - and he usually sports a surgical mask himself when out and about. He has said he wants to protect them from the public eye.
The ''King of Pop'' amassed a half-billion-dollar fortune over the past 20 years, but his former financial advisers have said, in a lawsuit last spring, that he is saddled with debt and teetering near bankruptcy. Current financial advisers have denied that claim.
Jackson has appeared weak and ghostly pale at many of his recent public appearances, and his own attorneys have said has been involved in nearly 1,000 lawsuits.
In June, he suffered a suspected anxiety attack during a visit to Indianapolis to deliver a deposition in a lawsuit and his doctor said the singer was weak, dizzy and dehydrated.
In a separate Santa Maria lawsuit hearing earlier this year, the singer hobbled into court on crutches with his left foot wrapped in bandages because of swelling from what he described as a spider bite and delayed testimony because he said he was too ill to appear in court.
When he did finally testify, he giggled during questioning and made comical faces at people in the courtroom.
Jackson and his three young children were not at the ranch at the time of the raid, his spokesman, Stuart Backerman, told The Associated Press. He said that for three weeks Jackson and his family have been in Las Vegas, where Jackson was filming a video.
Backerman declined further comment, saying he still lacked detailed information about the purpose of the investigation.
More than 20 investigators from the Santa Barbara County sheriff's and district attorney's offices served a warrant about 8:30 a.m. as part of an ''ongoing criminal investigation,'' Sgt. Chris Pappas said in a prepared statement.
The district attorney's office had no comment, said legal secretary Debbie Popp.
The $12.3 million Santa Ynez Valley property, which has a mansion, its own zoo and amusement park with bumper cars, a merry-go-round and Ferris wheel, has often been the site of children's parties.
Nearly 10 years have passed since the 45-year-old singing superstar faced a child-molestation investigation in a case that never resulted in criminal charges.
The singer who had international hits with the albums ''Thriller'' (1982), ''Bad'' (1987) and ''Dangerous'' (1991), saw his career begin to collapse in 1993 amid allegations he molested a boy. Jackson maintained his innocence, and charges were never filed. He reportedly paid a multimillion-dollar settlement.
Jackson is also connected to Hollywood private eye Anthony Pellicano, who has begun serving federal prison time for possessing illegal explosives, and is being investigated about whether he secretly taped conversations of celebrities and their lawyers.
Pellicano, 59, reportedly worked for Jackson while the singer was under investigation for child molestation in the early 1990s.
As the raid was under way, Court TV reported that the warrant was tied to allegations brought by a 12-year-old boy. That could not immediately be confirmed by The Associated Press.
In a television documentary broadcast on ABC earlier this year, Jackson said he had slept in a bed with many children. ''When you say bed you're thinking sexual,'' the singer said. ''It's not sexual, we're going to sleep. I tuck them in. ... It's very charming, it's very sweet.''
As of last December, when Jackson interacted with young fans outside a lawsuit hearing in Santa Maria, Calif., he was still inviting children to his home for parties.
The search came on the same day Epic Records released ''Number Ones,'' a greatest hits collection featuring Jackson's new single, ''One More Chance.'' On Nov. 26, CBS is scheduled to air a Jackson special consisting mainly of old concert footage.
Jackson caused an international uproar last year when he displayed his baby, Prince Michael II, to fans by dangling him briefly from a fourth-floor balcony in Germany, where he had gone to accept an award.
Jackson called the incident a ''terrible mistake,'' and Berlin authorities said the actions were not punishable.
Not much is known about Prince Michael II, whose mother has not been identified. The singer's 6-year-old son, Prince Michael I, and 5-year-old daughter, Paris, were born during his marriage to Debbie Rowe, his plastic surgeon's nurse, which ended in 1999.
He was also married to Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis's daughter, between 1994 and 1996.
Jackson routinely keeps the children's heads covered with cloth while escorting them in public - and he usually sports a surgical mask himself when out and about. He has said he wants to protect them from the public eye.
The ''King of Pop'' amassed a half-billion-dollar fortune over the past 20 years, but his former financial advisers have said, in a lawsuit last spring, that he is saddled with debt and teetering near bankruptcy. Current financial advisers have denied that claim.
Jackson has appeared weak and ghostly pale at many of his recent public appearances, and his own attorneys have said has been involved in nearly 1,000 lawsuits.
In June, he suffered a suspected anxiety attack during a visit to Indianapolis to deliver a deposition in a lawsuit and his doctor said the singer was weak, dizzy and dehydrated.
In a separate Santa Maria lawsuit hearing earlier this year, the singer hobbled into court on crutches with his left foot wrapped in bandages because of swelling from what he described as a spider bite and delayed testimony because he said he was too ill to appear in court.
When he did finally testify, he giggled during questioning and made comical faces at people in the courtroom.