Police search Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch

Michael Jackson Forum

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.

Source: CTV (Canada)

Police Search Michael Jackson's House

Police swarmed over pop superstar Michael Jackson's opulent Neverland Ranch on Tuesday as part of an unspecified criminal investigation, police said. Sheriff's deputies and officials from the District Attorney's office went to the sprawling ranch at 11:30 AM (Detroit time) to "serve a search warrant as part of an ongoing criminal investigation."

The search was still going on two hours later and police are not speaking about what they are searching for. But Sara's Celebrity Dirt sources are saying this search stems from allegations of sexual abuse brought by a 12-year-old boy.

The allegations come nine years after 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 in that case.

In February, Wacko Jacko revealed in a British television documentary that he shared his Neverland bedroom with young boys.

http://www.channel955.com/timages/page/JACKSON-neverland.jpg

When I saw this on the news last night, I was just completely shocked.
Not shocked thinking that he might have done this... after the other alligations, and him paying that family off, millions of dollars... just shocked in general.
It will be interesting to see what happens now... and the news said that he's almost bankrupt?!!!!
How in the WORLD do you end up almost bankrupt with that kind of money?!! WOW
If Michael really did these things, I hope that the truth is brought to light and he goes to prison. IF he did it. Otherwise, this is just really sad. I saw that tv special that he did awhile back, where he was talking about having little kids sleeping over, IN HIS BED! And that it was natural? I didn't, personally, find that that was a wise decision, and had it been my child, I would never have allowed that... I don't care WHO you are.

Jacko is definately wacko, but that doesn't give police the right to harrass him..since when do they search a house for a molestation charge?... It seems like they think they can do whatever they want to him now that he's linked to these charges. But if he did do what they think he did then they should search him I guess...I just don't see what good it would do..book him on porno charges if they find child porn? I don't know if that's what they're trying to do. Or he's just so above the law they have to 'catch' him to arrest him? But it is unusual to have children in your bed that aren't your own. Where are the parents of these children? Waiting to spring a law suit? But I'm not really surprised that he's bankrupt. With all the crap he buys and pays WAY too much for, and all the people he has begging him for money, he probably thinks his wallet is never never land..and he'll never see the end of it. Never never land isn't so true for your bank account jacko...

Since when do they search a house? Well, no one knows WHAT evidence was presented to the judge to justify a search warrant. But, they couldn't just throw some stupid, made up story to get this done. Nothing has been released, but those law enforcement agencies have been working on this for months. This isn't a last minute decision. This is something that they have been working very hard at trying to do.

I do agree... where in the hell are these parents who have been allowing their children to SLEEP IN BED WITH A GROWN MAN?!??? I don't care that he's Michael Jackson. That is sick... and if the parent's were doing this in hopes of filing a law suit to get money... they are sick too. No person, in their right mind, is going to allow thier child to sleep in a bed, with a grown man, KNOWING that there have been previous accusations against him for sexual misconduct with little children. It doesn't matter that the case never went to court. Michael paid them off, and they had to sign papers to NEVER talk about what they received, etc... I'm sorry... but to me, that's guilty paying off to be innocent.

Ok this might clear it up a bit but it could also be media hype:
I just saw a report that indicated that police found a secret room adjecent to MJ's bedroom closet with photos of shirtless children, games and an autographed photo of Macauley Culkin reading; "don't leave me alone in the house".
Let's just say for the sake of argument that it really hasn't been released what was found in the alleged room, but if the victim had mentioned to police the room exitsted and that the alleged assault took place there, it would have given them just cause to search his residence.

EXACTLY!

I don't get it...I'm just waiting to hear (and see) the accuser. I think its kinda like the state of CA is pissed off at Jacko because he is in effect above the law from the last suit. Since they changed the law of ten years ago- the accuser is now compelled to testify despite a retraction of an allegation. I think they did is specifically to nail jacko...as before he was able to escape any punishment by paying some 20-25 million to the accuser and it didn't go to trial as they dropped it. Jacko is wacko but so is the law.

You're right... he's wacko. As for the law... we are just going to have to wait and see what happens when he has to appear in court. I don't know if he's guilty or not. I don't like the charges, and if he's guilty, I hope that he pays severely. If he didn't do it, I hope that he will be exonerated with no doubts in people's minds. I just think he's a nut... no matter what!! Just strange!

Honestly I feel really bad for the alleged victim. Imagine he told his therapist in confindence. He probably had no idea the therapist would turn around and contact police.

I just hate the hype. Its like freakin' Bonfire of the Vanities. At this point I don't think we're ever going to know if he did it or didn't...everyone has something to gain by saying he did it, on both sides.

Michael Jackson Arrested, Released On $3M Bond

Michael Jackson arrived by private jet at Santa Barbara Airport and was taken into custody by Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department personnel and was booked on the arrest warrant.

Wacko Jacko was booked on charges of violation of section 288 (a) of the California Penal Code... child molestation. Bail amount of $3 million was set on the warrant, and bail was posted. MJ will be arraigned on the charges at Santa Barbara Superior Court at 8:30AM on January 9, 2004.

http://www.channel955.com/timages/page/michael-jackson-mugshot.jpg

Trailed by a phalanx of TV cameras, a handcuffed Michael Jackson was booked on suspicion of child molestation after arriving by private jet to face charges that could finish off his already declining career and send him to prison for years.

The self-styled "King of Pop" immediately posted $3 million bail and waved to reporters and flashed a V-sign before leaving the Santa Barbara County jail in a black Suburban escorted by three sheriff's motorcycle officers. "Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons," Jackson added in a statement issued by a spokesman.

Authorities released no details of the case beyond a warrant accusing the 45-year-old Jackson of multiple counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, an offense punishable by three to eight years in prison. But news reports have said the child was a 12- or 13-year-old boy who visited Jackson at his Neverland Ranch.

Jackson dominated pop music in the 1980s but was damaged by a similar molestation allegation in 1993. But no charges were ever filed. Jackson maintained his innocence but reportedly paid the boy's family a multimillion-dollar civil settlement, and the child refused to testify in any criminal proceedings. The district attorney has said the youngster in the latest case is cooperating with investigators and has no plans to sue. He also said prosecutors could be helped by a law, passed since the earlier Jackson investigation, that was designed to keep civil suits from interfering with criminal cases.

Wait... did that mugshot above say Race: Black???

Click Here to read the disturbing court documents of MJ's original 1993 child molestation charges. These charges magically disappeared after Jackson gifted the parents of the boy with a $40 million check.

Can you imagine how scared this kid must be? This can not be good for his health. He is a cancer survivor. It is a pity that the media can not leave him alone. Who knows what the stress from all of this will do to his health.

I was watching the news this morning, and they showed some of the interview that Jermaine Jackson did with I think Barbara Walters. He said this, and it's really got me thinking:

"I'm not worried about what they FOUND in Michael's house when they searched it. I'm worried about what was PUT in Michael's house when they searched it. Why did it take SEVENTY people to search his house? There was no control over what went in."

I have to agree... there was NO accountability. That was way too many people. I'm NOT saying that they planted anything. I'm NOT saying that they didn't. I'm saying that he's got a great point about this. And it's going to make a lot of people wonder.

Also, they were talking about the boy that this happened to. They said that he was 12 at the time that he met Michael. He had cancer and was really bad off. He wanted to meet Michael. I have NO idea what happened. But, they said that there were "love letters" written from Michael, to this boy. And that one time the mother and child went over to his place and when they got home, all the letters were gone. THIS is what the police went in looking for. Hmmmmm....

I just have to say, WHY, if Michael did these things that are being claimed... WHY would he write anything down in a letter that could be used against him? Just some "food for thought!"

Great food Kris! I'm gonna take a bite at it...
Jermaine is concerned about the police planting evidence. I'm not going to deny that investigators do this, I think they do. Although my Brother is a homicide detective and even if he was positive that someone was guilty, he would never plant evidence. But not all cops are that way.
They went in with 70+ cops probably because Neverland is HUGE and it's probably not a task that can be carried out efficiantly by one or two investigators. They also probably had the large number of cops there because the warrant was executed with an element of surprise. Investigators linked to the previous allegation 10 years ago claim that during their search, there were videos missing from the video library and they felt that because he knew the investigators were coming, he had ample time to "spruce" up the joint. (Again, this is just what they claim, none of us knows for sure.)
If MJ did write love letters to this boy, even if he did not molest the previous child, yes you would think that he would have known from previous experience not to do something like that. But we're also not talking about a rationally thinking person. His bizarre and outrageous behavior is the product of someone who never had any limitations in their life. No one ever tells him "no". To him, his behavior is completely normal. He's totally incapable of even thinking that anything he does is wrong or a bad idea...maybe even including writing love letters to his victim.
Let me just reemphasize that this is merely theory and speculation, not one of us knows the truth. The only people who know the truth are MJ and his alleged victim.

Thank you KJ for some actual concrete information on the search of never never land. I think this whole case is a sham. I just keep remembering the way the cops were towards the media. They kept laughing and joking and saying they didn't listen to Michael's music (in retort to the allegation that this whole case was because his cd came out also). I just think it was totally unprofessional and their attitudes make me think they only have one goal in mind, to persecute Michael. I haven't listened to his music in years and I think he is a freak, but I don't want to wish him any harm. He is a strange character, but that doesn't mean he did anything. Is he on trial for molestation or for being weird? And isn't it odd that there isn't any concrete evidence against him? What ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Anyone can allege that someone molested a child, but when they think money will be paid for such an allegation the chance someone else will accuse increases. Not to mention 3 million dollars just for bail, who wouldn't want that money also? CA would. But can you tell if someone is lying? Put the child on the stand and question him and question Michael. Down with the hype, let's get this media circus over with- unless thats just what jacko wants..

Well put Chel. I don't think the police were planting evidence. I think that they came in with such numbers to keep Neverland staff from destroying evidence and because of the mere size of the place. Trust me, there will be a ton of people who believe that the police planted evidence and that the allegations are false merely because MJ is famous. People are blinded by fame. That truly amazes me. He is just a man. Not above all of us.

Micahel Jackson's "Love Letters"

Sordid details of the child sex charges against Michael Jackson have been revealed by our sources. We are told that Jackson may have tried to buy off the family of his accuser, 12-year-old cancer victim Gavin Arvizo, and that videos found at his home could identify hundreds of boys who stayed with him. Jackson is accused of oral sex, mutual masturbation and inappropriate sexual touching.

In fact, we have learned that authorities confiscated dozens of "love letters" in their raid of Neverland Ranch. These letters contain explicit writings to the victim from Michael. He is said to have referred to Gavin and other boys as "Rubba" because he aroused himself by rubbing against them.

A source said: "One of the games they used to play was called rubba-rubba. The boy said 'Jackson was my rubba-rubba friend'."

Jacko was said yesterday to have tried to buy off the Arvizo family in February by flying them to a new life in South America. The move came after Gavin told Martin Bashir in his controversial TV documentary that he had slept in Jackson's bedroom, according to a London tabloid.

Jackson's former security guard Robert Wegner has been on to say an estimated 300 boys passed through Neverland during the early 1990s.

He claimed he saw the singer press his groin against the youngsters as well as touch and caress them. Two people who slept over at Neverland came forward yesterday to say they had not been abused.

Ahmed Elatab, 17 - whose brother Jawad, eight, also stayed at the ranch - said: "Michael never molested me. I never saw him be weird with any of the kids."

Jacko Sells Neverland Ranch For $35 Million

Michael Jackson has secretly sold his Neverland Ranch for $35 million, The National Enquirer can reveal. "It hasn't felt like his home since the police raided," said a source.

"When the trial is over he will move out the same day, one way or the other. He will never live there again."

Where's he going to live then? I can't think of another property that has the facilities of Neverland, unless he plans on moving into Disneyland for a while

Jacko sells Neverland Valley, returning to Gary
By John LeForest

Michael Jackson is selling his Neverland Valley ranch for $44.8 million to California businessman Bill Wyatt and is in the process of purchasing property in Gary, Indiana, a source close to Jackson has told The Hoosier Gazette.

Gary, best known for being named “Murder Capital of America” in 1993 for having the highest per capita homicide rate in the nation, is Jackson’s birthplace and where his family formed the Jackson Five.

Jackson’s friends in show business are perplexed by his recent decision to relocate to one of the most crime-ridden and rundown cities in the nation.

“I can’t believe this! It is not like Michael to do something so strange. I am really worried he might be losing it mentally,” said close friend and confidant Elizabeth Taylor.

“Poor Mikey is moving back to that horrible, horrible place!” added friend Liza Minnelli; “I hope being around so many bad influences doesn’t get him into trouble.”

It has been speculated Jackson is making the move to Gary to cut expenses to help pay for his recent legal problems and to toughen up his image.


“Most people don’t know what a bad-ass Mike is,” says ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, “That is why I was attracted to him. He is a nice guy but if you mess with him you better watch out. Moving to Gary will show the public this side of him, something they haven’t seen since his video ‘Bad’ back in ’87.”


There is no word on which street gang Jackson will join upon moving to Gary, but there are several possibilities. He is the hottest free agent on the market, and all the major gangs have invited The King of Pop to join.

“It’s been tough ‘round here since GRIT has been on our asses,” says G-City Ballaz member Rashon Carter, “Somebody with M.J.’s wallet would put us over the top and in control of drugs in the whole city.” The Gary Response Investigative Team (GRIT), formed in 1997, is “comprised of members of the FBI, the DEA, the Gary Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the United States Attorney's Office, the Lake County Prosecutor's Office, and the Indiana Army National Guard to combat the high crime problem in the city of Gary, Indiana.”

Jackson could elect to start his own gang, one that he could be head of and call his own shots. “Mike just adores ‘West Side Story’ so I wouldn’t be surprised if he started a gang called either The Jets or The Sharks,” said Presley.


http://www.hoosiergazette.com/News/news007.htm


I dont know if this is a joke or something...but who cant help but laugh at this comment:

Its not like him to do strange things? He MIGHT be losing it mentally?

Im not saying it isnt true....BUT....I cant seem to find anything about him selling the ranch in a normal journalistic setting...

I mean the only ones reporting it are the NE and the Hoosier Gazette...not really your normal run of the mill respected news sources.

It's made up. It's just too dumb to be true.

It's got be made up, otherwise he's taking advice from Britney Spears. She told him he should roughen up his image. The day anyone starts taking advice from Britney is a sad day indeed.