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CNN Live At Daybreak
Trouble in Neverland: Michael Jackson Facing Child Molestation Charges
Aired November 20, 2003 - 06:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Want to switch gears now and talk about what is happening in California. Pop star Michael Jackson is expected to surrender to authorities today. An arrest warrant alleges multiple counts of sexual molestation against the singer.
CNN's Gary Tuchman live near Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos.
Good morning -- Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And we are as near as can be. Carol, good morning to you. Twelve inches away from the fence that separates the public street from the ranch, so we have a very good vantage point here. And it's very quiet right now.
But it may pick up later today, because here is the scenario we envision. We think that Michael Jackson might end up coming back here later today, because a source tells us he is planning to surrender today on the multiple counts of child molestation. The source says he is in Las Vegas, will fly later this morning to Santa Barbara County where he will be booked. He will post a bond of $3 million, a bond that's described by authorities here as way up there but not unprecedented. And then it is expected he will come back to his home in Neverland.
He faces the possibility on each of these multiple counts, and we're not being told how many counts. Authorities say they have sealed the affidavit for 45 days with that information, but three to eight years on each of the counts against him.
Now a spokesman for Michael Jackson came out with a statement yesterday saying -- quote -- "The outrageous allegations against Michael Jackson are false. Michael would never harm a child in any way. These scurrilous and totally unfounded allegations will be proven false in a courtroom." And obviously, Michael Jackson will get the chance to do that.
Now there was some criticism over the last couple of days, when the search took place in this ranch with more than 70 police officers, that it was timed to interfere with the release of Michael Jackson's new CD. The authorities deny that. But at a news conference yesterday, they could not resist some levity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM SNEDDON, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY D.A.: Has said that this was all done to try to ruin his new CD that was coming out or whatever it is he is doing. Like the sheriff and I really are into that kind of music. But...
(LAUGHTER)
SHERIFF JIM ANDERSON, SANTA BARBARA CO., CALIFORNIA: Last question.
QUESTION: What do you say to parents who let their children go to Neverland Ranch on sleepovers? What is your (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
ANDERSON: My advice is don't do it.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: You can see there was laughter during the news conference, which was rather unusual during this type of news conference. We can tell you we are talking about multiple counts of child molestation, but it appears to be with one particular alleged victim.
Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: All right. Gary Tuchman, joining us live from California this morning, many thanks.
As we have said, as Gary just said, Michael Jackson is expected to surrender to California authorities today. An arrest warrant alleges multiple counts of sexual molestation.
And that means it's time for some 'Coffey Talk' right now. Our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey, live from Miami.
Good morning -- Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So Michael Jackson is supposed to turn himself in. He is supposed to fly back from Vegas. That's probably the best bet for him, at this point, right?
COFFEY: Absolutely, voluntary surrender is always the better course for a defendant. And he is internationally recognizable. No point in even thinking he is going to run. And a $3 million bond is big enough, I think, to assure that he will remain for trial.
COSTELLO: What will happen to him once he surrenders to authorities?
COFFEY: You go through the booking. It's you are fingerprinted, there's mug shots. There is a whole process. Sometimes it can be wrapped up in a few hours. But you are brought into and basically made a name and part of the criminal justice system forever. COSTELLO: They sealed the records in this case for 45 days. You know we heard California authorities talking about that. Why do they do that?
COFFEY: Well it's standard issue on a -- in a search warrant and as well as an arrest warrant. And you may see, as we saw in the Peterson case, and indeed as we saw in the Kobe Bryant case, Carol, that courts continue to keep some of those materials under seal. There is an increasing concern that some judges have expressed about cases that become, to use the phrasing of one of the appellate courts, "a media frenzy." So there may continue to be an effort to limit pre- trial publicity in this case.
COSTELLO: The media frenzy is only going to get worse. And you have to wonder about this 12-year-old, because you know his identity is going to come out sooner or later.
COFFEY: That's a horrifying thought, Carol. But unlike situations where the identity of an adult is released, which, frankly, for better for bitter, the Constitution protects the naming of an adult alleged victim. When it comes to children, the rules are very different. Anyone that distributes the name or the identity or the image of that alleged victim is going to be in a heap of trouble.
COSTELLO: In 1993 when Jackson was charged with similar crimes, there was a civil case, and it was settled out of court for millions and millions of dollars. Could that happen this time, too?
COFFEY: Well the prosecutors believe it won't happen because the criminal charges have already been brought. But realistically, at any point, the alleged victim could bring a civil suit. And actually, Carol, the best strategy is to wait until the criminal case is over, then bring a civil suit, because frankly, if Michael Jackson is convicted either by plea or by a verdict, that civil lawsuit for damages is going to have a value of millions and millions.
COSTELLO: OK, one last question before you go, because I know he is supposed to turn himself in, what will be a -- will there be like a perp walk?
COFFEY: It's going to be pretty hard to avoid getting some public exposure to Michael Jackson's entrance into the facility. They will try to find a back way. They will try to get him in and out in a hurry, but I would be astonished if it's invisible.
COSTELLO: All right. Kendall Coffey, joining us live from Miami, many thanks.
COFFEY: Thank you (ph).
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Molestation Charges>
Aired November 20, 2003 - 06:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Want to switch gears now and talk about what is happening in California. Pop star Michael Jackson is expected to surrender to authorities today. An arrest warrant alleges multiple counts of sexual molestation against the singer.
CNN's Gary Tuchman live near Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos.
Good morning -- Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And we are as near as can be. Carol, good morning to you. Twelve inches away from the fence that separates the public street from the ranch, so we have a very good vantage point here. And it's very quiet right now.
But it may pick up later today, because here is the scenario we envision. We think that Michael Jackson might end up coming back here later today, because a source tells us he is planning to surrender today on the multiple counts of child molestation. The source says he is in Las Vegas, will fly later this morning to Santa Barbara County where he will be booked. He will post a bond of $3 million, a bond that's described by authorities here as way up there but not unprecedented. And then it is expected he will come back to his home in Neverland.
He faces the possibility on each of these multiple counts, and we're not being told how many counts. Authorities say they have sealed the affidavit for 45 days with that information, but three to eight years on each of the counts against him.
Now a spokesman for Michael Jackson came out with a statement yesterday saying -- quote -- "The outrageous allegations against Michael Jackson are false. Michael would never harm a child in any way. These scurrilous and totally unfounded allegations will be proven false in a courtroom." And obviously, Michael Jackson will get the chance to do that.
Now there was some criticism over the last couple of days, when the search took place in this ranch with more than 70 police officers, that it was timed to interfere with the release of Michael Jackson's new CD. The authorities deny that. But at a news conference yesterday, they could not resist some levity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM SNEDDON, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY D.A.: Has said that this was all done to try to ruin his new CD that was coming out or whatever it is he is doing. Like the sheriff and I really are into that kind of music. But...
(LAUGHTER)
SHERIFF JIM ANDERSON, SANTA BARBARA CO., CALIFORNIA: Last question.
QUESTION: What do you say to parents who let their children go to Neverland Ranch on sleepovers? What is your (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?
ANDERSON: My advice is don't do it.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: You can see there was laughter during the news conference, which was rather unusual during this type of news conference. We can tell you we are talking about multiple counts of child molestation, but it appears to be with one particular alleged victim.
Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: All right. Gary Tuchman, joining us live from California this morning, many thanks.
As we have said, as Gary just said, Michael Jackson is expected to surrender to California authorities today. An arrest warrant alleges multiple counts of sexual molestation.
And that means it's time for some 'Coffey Talk' right now. Our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey, live from Miami.
Good morning -- Kendall.
KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So Michael Jackson is supposed to turn himself in. He is supposed to fly back from Vegas. That's probably the best bet for him, at this point, right?
COFFEY: Absolutely, voluntary surrender is always the better course for a defendant. And he is internationally recognizable. No point in even thinking he is going to run. And a $3 million bond is big enough, I think, to assure that he will remain for trial.
COSTELLO: What will happen to him once he surrenders to authorities?
COFFEY: You go through the booking. It's you are fingerprinted, there's mug shots. There is a whole process. Sometimes it can be wrapped up in a few hours. But you are brought into and basically made a name and part of the criminal justice system forever. COSTELLO: They sealed the records in this case for 45 days. You know we heard California authorities talking about that. Why do they do that?
COFFEY: Well it's standard issue on a -- in a search warrant and as well as an arrest warrant. And you may see, as we saw in the Peterson case, and indeed as we saw in the Kobe Bryant case, Carol, that courts continue to keep some of those materials under seal. There is an increasing concern that some judges have expressed about cases that become, to use the phrasing of one of the appellate courts, "a media frenzy." So there may continue to be an effort to limit pre- trial publicity in this case.
COSTELLO: The media frenzy is only going to get worse. And you have to wonder about this 12-year-old, because you know his identity is going to come out sooner or later.
COFFEY: That's a horrifying thought, Carol. But unlike situations where the identity of an adult is released, which, frankly, for better for bitter, the Constitution protects the naming of an adult alleged victim. When it comes to children, the rules are very different. Anyone that distributes the name or the identity or the image of that alleged victim is going to be in a heap of trouble.
COSTELLO: In 1993 when Jackson was charged with similar crimes, there was a civil case, and it was settled out of court for millions and millions of dollars. Could that happen this time, too?
COFFEY: Well the prosecutors believe it won't happen because the criminal charges have already been brought. But realistically, at any point, the alleged victim could bring a civil suit. And actually, Carol, the best strategy is to wait until the criminal case is over, then bring a civil suit, because frankly, if Michael Jackson is convicted either by plea or by a verdict, that civil lawsuit for damages is going to have a value of millions and millions.
COSTELLO: OK, one last question before you go, because I know he is supposed to turn himself in, what will be a -- will there be like a perp walk?
COFFEY: It's going to be pretty hard to avoid getting some public exposure to Michael Jackson's entrance into the facility. They will try to find a back way. They will try to get him in and out in a hurry, but I would be astonished if it's invisible.
COSTELLO: All right. Kendall Coffey, joining us live from Miami, many thanks.
COFFEY: Thank you (ph).
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Molestation Charges>
