What ever happened to bubbles?

BBC news link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...281893.stm

VinaBlue said:

i dunno...

Just got home from work, checked the computer... and this is the headline!!!

This time he needs to fight it.

Jackson Targeted in Criminal Probe
1 hour, 49 minutes ago

By Josh Grossberg

Michael Jackson is at the center of a potentially blockbuster new legal thriller.

A small army of police investigators descended on the popster's sprawling Neverland Ranch Tuesday morning as part of an unspecified criminal probe, Santa Barbara County officials confirmed.


Dozens of officers accompanied by dog teams showed up at Neverland at 8:30 a.m. to serve a search warrant, Sgt. Chris Pappas of the county sheriff's office said. He said the raid was part of an "ongoing criminal investigation," but declined to go into specifics.


Whatever the reason for the search, it was important enough to bring county D.A. Thomas Sneddon down to the property to monitor the search.


Jackson's publicist, Stuart Backerman, said, "we cannot comment on law enforcement's investigation because we do not yet know what it is about."


Backerman did confirm that the 45-year-old Jackson and his three young children were in Las Vegas, where the "Dangerous" singer was filming a video for an upcoming CBS special, and was not present when the warrant was served.


"Michael will, as always, cooperate fully with authorities in any investigation even as it is conducted, yet again, while he is not home," Backerman added.


While authorities have been mum on details--they're expected to divulge more at a press conference Wednesday morning--there have been reports linking the investigation to a familiar Jackson bugaboo: allegations of child abuse.


Both Court TV and syndicated TV show Extra are saying the probe was launched after a 12-year-old boy told a Los Angeles law firm about inappropriate behavior by Jackson. The allegations were reportedly forwarded to the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office for further review, which in turn led to today's raid.


"A rogue's gallery of hucksters and self-styled 'inside sources' have dominated the airwaves since reports of a search of Neverland broke, speculating, guessing and fabricating information about an investigation they couldn't possibly know about," Backerman said.


In a statement issued by Backerman, Jackson is quoted as saying, "These characters always seem to surface with a dreadful allegation just as another project, an album, a video, is being released."


Indeed, the search warrant was executed the same day as Jackson's new greatest-hits album, Number Ones, hit shelves.


"The timing of these events are suspicious," reiterated Brian Oxman, a Jackson family attorney. "Michael has 24-hour-a-day attendants who track his movements. We view these allegations as another attempt at gaining money from Michael."


Jackson is also linked to Anthony Pellicano, the private investigator to the stars who began a federal prison sentence Monday for possession of illegal explosives. Pellicano is the subject of a federal investigation over allegations that he illegally wiretapped the phones of celebrities and their lawyers. There was no indication Tuesday that the Neverland search was connected to the Pellicano case.


Tuesday's raid resurrects memories of the sexual-molestation allegations 10 years ago that nearly destroyed his career and have dogged him ever since.


A 13-year-old boy said he was enticed into Jackson's bed at Neverland and subjected to unwanted sexual contact. Jackson proclaimed his innocence and no criminal charges were ever brought in the case. The matter came to a close when the erstwhile King of Pop paid the boy's family a multimillion-dollar settlement.


The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer came under new scrutiny in February, when he admitted during an ABC television documentary that he often sleeps in the same bed with young guests to his ranch.





"When you say bed, you're thinking sexual," the entertainer said at the time. "It's not sexual, we're going to sleep. I tuck them in...it's very charming, it's very sweet."

Jackson also was blasted by child-rights advocates last year, when he briefly dangled his youngest (whom he calls Blanket) off a balcony in Germany.

Jackson has been involved in nearly 1,000 lawsuits over the course of his off-the-wall career and the seemingly endless legal fees have chipped away at his half-billion-dollar fortune. In recent months he was ordered to pay a promoter $5.3 million over scuttled millennium concerts; reached a settlement with a former financial adviser who claimed Jackson owed $12 million in unpaid fees; and struck a deal with Sotheby's for non-payment for two paintings.

Word of the criminal investigation comes just days after his father, Joe Jackson, admitted in a BBC interview that he used to whip his son.

The news also arrives as Jackson once again tries to re-energize his foundering career. Aside from Number Ones (which is likely his final album for Sony's Epic Records), he recently released his long-delayed all-star 9/11 charity anthem, "What More Can I Give?"

And, as of Tuesday afternoon, CBS still planned to go forward with its Jackson sweeps special, scheduled to air November 26. It will feature old concert footage, along with a performance of Jackson's new collaboration with R. Kelly, "One More Chance," from Number Ones.

---

I would never believe this is the result of "free publicity" for the new disc dropping. But, I agree with the above beliefs that if he is innocent, he'd better go to court on this one and fight tooth and nail.

One more thing... as stated in the above article, it seems rather coincidental that the authorities always wait until he's out of the state to raid his home, and always when there's a new project in the works. This second round is almost exactly 10 years ago ( a little over, but who's counting )!

If it turns out they have any proof this time, then I will shut up and never back him up again... if he's innocent, and they put him through this shit again, you ain't gonna be able to shut my ass up!



Damn, Michael... good luck with this one...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I heard on CourtTV today that the attorney who asked for today's search warrant was involved in some way in the molestation investigation back in 1993, and was very disappointed back then when the other little boy took a monetary payoff and that MJ never got charged with anything.

Makes me wonder if maybe the search warrant being carried out today, on the same day as MJ's new CD coming out, was the attorney twisting the proverbial knife a bit more into ol Michael, essentially tainting the new release or at least tarnishing it (a LOT), and also psychologically sticking it to Michael as well.

I still say the idea of this raid being somehow orchestrated by Michael himself or by his people as some kind of publicity ploy is ridiculous as pedophilia isn't normally a big moneymaking gimmick for any celebrity; however, I *could* maybe buy into the theory of someone picking this particular day to raid MJ's home as a way to both tarnish the new CD and as a psychological tactic.

When you consider the millions of dollars that
the last fiasco cost him, you have to ask yourself
why would he get caught in the same loop once again???

Maybe he cant help himself, which would make him
a serial pedophile. He needs help. Maybe he'll get
some in jail...but my main concern is not for him,
but for the boys.
[This message was edited Tue Nov 18 17:01:11 PST 2003 by Revolution]

PrimordialOoze said:

Co-sign. The publicity stunt idea is laughable. Nobody could be that idiotic. The same people are involved in this fiasco as were last time... Diane Diamond of Hard Copy fame, Thomas Sneddon... they're trying to get it on the action all over again. Sick, sick vultures, IMO.

ARREST WARRANT?

I understand that a warrant for Jacko's arrest has been issued. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Looks like this one's going the distance folks. Brace yourselves!!

M.2.K
:2C:

This just in:

12 year old boy accuses Michael Jackson of molestation.

Police raid home with search warrant, stating it's part of an ongoing investigation. Michael Jackson is out of the state, preparing for a television show later this month.

Media takes opportunity to hype the event like no other... the news places this event over George Bush's trip to England.

News footage clearly shows police arriving to the ranch... what were the cameras doing there? What do you think happened? Were they there already, just hoping for a story? News copters too? Sitting, filming, hoping for a blockbuster story? Or, were they called in advance by the police to help blow this story out in the world?!?

Even if they heard the police scanners dropping the info, they would have made it late for the arrival of the cops to his gate... nope, they were there waiting.

I want answers to this. I havent' heard of any arrest yet, papaa... I'm sure they would interrupt tv shows with that news. Nothing yet.

papaa said:

no, just a search warrant on his house...

June7 said:

very good points, june7!

i was so sad when i read the news and i just hope it is some attempt at making him look bad. it does seem like an easy target but, in the real world, judges just don't hand out search warrants because an album is ocming out. judges hand them out if there is reasonable cause.

this is very disturbing and i hope it is all a mistake

June7 said:

i dunno man, if the police over that way are that shiesty to get on the phone and be like "hey channel 13, we're raidin michael jackson's mansion! get your camera crews out, quick!!!" hopefully that ain't the case...i'ma wait n'see on this still.

I'm a big fan of MJs music, but this sort of shit doesn't keep happening for no reason.

I think we'll see an arrest soon.

Have I seen his childhood? No. That doesn't excuse what I think is about to come out.

MJ is going down.

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

The reasonable cause is, according to the police, they were contacted by the boy's therapist.

The young man is going thru therapy allegedly as a result of this latest incident... so, (as he is required to by law) the therapist had to inform them of the boy's allegations. They then acquired a search warrant.

It all seems to "text book" to me. Why did the parents send the boy to a therapist instead of going straight to the police, if he was molested?

If my child ever told me someone was fucking with him, I'd go straight to the police, then I'd kill the mother-fucker.

Why do these parents first go to a doctor or a lawyer? Why not straight to the police?

I DON'T WISH TO BE A SCAREMONGER BUT...

I've been informed that computers and videos were seized from the Neverland Ranch. And again, that an arrest warrant has been issued.

Please note: I can't vouch for the veracity of this information. In fact it's the middle of the morning over here so I could just be hearing voices. :MRGREEN:

M.2.K
:2C:

June7 said:

Quite simply, maybe the kid didn't tell anyone except his therapist?

June7 said:

it is my understanding that therapists and psychologists are not permitted to go to the police unless asked to by the patient. there is a confidence agreement between dr. and patient. it also keeps drs from testifying against their patients when told something in confidance, in therapy.

as for the parents, i agree with you. if they knew their child had been touched they should not have gone through middle men. however, if their child was simply acting strangely and eradically they may have sent him to therapy unaware that he had been touched. i don't know all the details yet so i'm trying to remain neutral on both sides. i don't want michael's celebrity to blind me from reality but i also don't want to assume the worst just because of the press.

Where are your sources? Please don't quote "news" (i.e. the news about the boy's therapist and the arrest warrant) without including a source. Otherwise there's nothing to separate it from personal speculation! I have been checking in on MJ boards all day and have heard neither of these things!

DarlingCaroline said:

Sorry, I just know what's been reported. In this case, the police spokesman stated the boy's therapist contacted them after he heard of the allegations.

And... isn't this whole thread based on news and television reports?

June7 said:

Yes it is. I am not refuting what's been reported, my beef was more with the "papaa" character who posted the arrest warrant information. And what channel did you get the info about the boy's therapist etc? It's just that, as far as I had heard (which is up to the minute!) nobody had even confirmed it had anything to do with molestation except Court TV. And we all know how reliable THAT source is.

FYI

DarlingCaroline said:

I was informed of the news by an individual who watched Larry King Live. And BTW, I posted a question about an arrest warrant, NOT information relating to the above.

Without prejudice, let me restate (as it appears not to have been evident in my prior postings) that I'm merely publishing second-hand information, and cannot pass comments on the scant details available herein.

M.2.K

DarlingCaroline said:

Mmm, I've been flippin' channels, and on all the news stations here in the states, they've said a 12 - 13 year old boy has claimed molestation

A couple of police sources have come forward that it is a molestation investigation.

My brother in law, an investigator for the D.A. in Monterey, has called his buddies in Santa Barbara, who said it's a molestation investigation.

Okay - so it's fact that a 12 to 13 year old boy has accused MJ of molestation.

On a news channel here, can't remember which one, a cop told a reporter about the therapist situation.

I have not confirmed this therapist with my bro-in-law, as he is currently riding me with this MJ "I told you so" shit.. (Damn, I gotta go thru this shit again!!!)

We'll see. Anyway, those are my sources for now...

imnotsayinthisjust2bnasty said:

If the patient is an adult disclosing sex abuse, confidentiality is maintained unless the person asks for involvement of authorities. But if it's a minor, such as in this case, certain people are considered "mandated reporters" and must report it for the child's safety. (usually to Child Protective Svcs, who would then make the call on whether or not to investigate/bring police into the matter)

papaa said:

Sorry. It was just that this comment:

I DON'T WISH TO BE A SCAREMONGER BUT...

I've been informed that computers and videos were seized from the Neverland Ranch. And again, that an arrest warrant has been issued.

Sounded like you were stating unconfirmed rumours as though they were facts. I'm a bit sensitive about it... didn't mean to jump down your throat though.




And for my trouble at MJEOL forums for passing on the information that has been posted here, I got my posts deleted and replaced with this message from the administrator:


"Don't post any more bull here from prince.org"


Grr.

NO PROBLEMO

They can be a bit prickly at MJ forums. My advice: Just wave them some of the ol'

M.2.K
:2C:

papaa said:

Prickly's about the understatement of the century. We've been bound by a gag order there not to say anything about the incident that the tabloids could quote us on in a negative way - i.e. no murder or suicide threats... lol. Every second post is being deleted.

Maybe he should stay away from boys, ya think?


[This message was edited Tue Nov 18 21:51:30 PST 2003 by Jasziah]

VinaBlue said:

Went the way of POOK..

CinisterCee said:

More like went the way of Pinnochio...eh oh!



Protect yourself boy!

Once again,Michael is in the news for something OTHER than his music.This guy is insane! After everything he went through in 1993,he STILL insists on having "sleepovers" with young boys?? This is truly sad and pathetic and it was only a matter of time before he got accused of molestation again.I'm just so pissed off at him.Whether he's guilty or not,his career is finished.