| By Dan Whitcomb
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A day after his arrest on suspicion of molesting a young boy, Michael Jackson was in seclusion as prosecutors on Friday readied charges and pressure mounted on authorities to take away his three children.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, a man portrayed in the press as Jackson's longtime nemesis, said in a statement that he would not file formal charges against the moon-walking entertainer until after Thanksgiving.
Jackson -- who was whisked from Las Vegas to California and back just long enough to surrender to police, hand in his passport and post $3 million bail -- was due in court for an arraignment on Jan. 9.
The self-styled "King of Pop" was believed holed up for most of the day at a hotel and spa outside the desert resort city, where he finished work on a music video. Despite throngs of reporters camped outside, a hotel manager declined say if Jackson was a guest there.
Members of Jackson's family also traveled to Las Vegas and spent time at a recording studio, apparently without him.
Jackson has not spoken publicly since some 60 police officers stormed his ranch on Tuesday looking for evidence to substantiate the allegations of an unidentified young boy.
Jackson said in a statement the allegations were outrageous lies and predicted he would be exonerated.
"Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons," Jackson said, according to a written statement released by his publicist. "The truth will win this marathon in court." | |
