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Trouble in Neverland

Aired November 20, 2003 - 10:25   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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to talk more about the charges against Michael Jackson and what happens next as we wait to see whether Michael Jackson is going to turn himself in. Harvey Levin is executive producer of "Celebrity Justice." He's in Glendale, California this morning.
Good morning, Harvey.

HARVEY LEVIN, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE"": Hi, Carol.

LIN: All right, "Celebrity Justice" has some pretty interesting information on this case. For example, a little bit more about the child involved and how these charges came out.

LEVIN: Yes, there is so much going on. What we know is this, that there's a 12-year-old Los Angeles boy, and the way this whole thing got triggered was he was in a therapy session and said some things that alarmed the therapist. Under California law, that person has a legal duty to report child abuse if he either believes or has reason to believe that it exists, and we know that he went to authorities, and this is what started it all. In terms of what was said in the therapy session, we know one thing, the therapist says and the boy has now subsequently said to authorities that Michael Jackson replied him with wine before this alleged sexual abuse. That's a pretty damaging allegation. So it all started with that. You know, I talked to the boy's father yesterday. And we -- by the way, at "Celebrity Justice" we absolutely are not going to directly or indirectly identify who this boy is. We are just not going to go there.

So I'll only go this far, to say I thought it was kind of interesting that one of the things Michael Jackson had done according to this man he had given him a car, a Bronco, because his car broken down, and Michael Jackson basically gave him the car so that he could make it easier to go back and forth to the Neverland Ranch. I find that kind of interesting.

LIN: Yes, very interesting. How did the family get hooked up with Michael Jackson to begin with?

LEVIN: I just can't go there, Carol. It ends up divulging who they are, and I just don't want to do it. It just doesn't feel right to me.

LIN: Because, you know, a lot of us are wondering, especially after the allegations 10 years ago, back in 1993, why is it that some parents would even let their kids have a relationship with Michael Jackson? I understand you can't...

LEVIN: You know what, when you look at this case, I mean, this is not like, gee, knock me over with a feather. This has been 10 years in the making, and you've got Michael Jackson investigated by two law enforcement agencies 10 years ago, engaging in a $20 million settlement with a boy 10 years ago. And then basically bizarre conduct ever since then, including some pretty crazy things on these documentaries. So it's not as if this is a thunderbolt out of the blue. And you know, I think the question you raise is fair, but it's a fair question for anybody in America, because everybody knows about all of this stuff.

LIN: Harvey, did the father or the family tell you whether the boy would have to testify in any public capacity in this case?

LEVIN: No, all I can tell is you what the D.A. has, which is he said believes he has a willing boy to testify. But if I may, I'm not trying to be contrary this morning, Carol, but I think the D.A. overstates it a little bit. He says, the law says he has to testify there. You know what, there are laws that make it easier for a boy like this to testify. It can be done in chambers, it can be done in videotape, it can be done all sorts of way to make it more comfortable to the boy. But push comes to shove, this boy says it is too traumatic for me, I can't do it, I want to go away, just leave me alone. What are they going do? throw this boy in jail?

LIN: Right.

LEVIN: Ultimately, I don't think the teeth are there to make it airtight. It doesn't mean the case is falling apart, but I don't think you can never say never in a situation like this.

LIN: Harvey, I'm just wondering, you know, the family might be following, for example, the Kobe Bryant case, where in that case, the accuser, this young woman, has had her picture ended up on the Internet, her name published. I know she's an adult, but nevertheless, an alleged rape victim. I'm wondering if just the publicity of this case, whether the family is going to be up to actually pursuing these charges? What's their mindset there?

LEVIN: My mindset is this is one of the toughest things for a family to endure, and as bad as it is for an adult to deal with an alleged rape charge, think about a 12-year-old? I mean, it's just unbelievable. And, remember, 12-year-olds get teased. It's not just, oh gosh, you're going through this horrible thing. Twelve-year-olds have classmates and they are the object of scorn and ridicule. It is an enormously, enormously tough thing to go through. And I don't think you can minimize that in any situation like this.

I think this case might be a little bit different for a couple of reasons. No. 1, Michael Jackson, we understand, wrote a $20 million check this time. I don't think he's as flush with cash these days. Michael Jackson seems to have some money issues. That doesn't mean he can't leverage himself or do whatever if he wanted to try to settle something, but I think it would be a little bit harder. And I think just the scrutiny over the last 10 years. Ten years ago, you thought, wow, Michael Jackson investigated for child molestation?

LIN: All right, I'm sorry, Harvey, we lost the connection with you. That was Harvey Levin, executive producer of "Celebrity Justice," with some really interesting information. Harvey, was able to talk with the father of the child involved.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 20, 2003 - 10:25   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: We want to talk more about the charges against Michael Jackson and what happens next as we wait to see whether Michael Jackson is going to turn himself in. Harvey Levin is executive producer of "Celebrity Justice." He's in Glendale, California this morning.
Good morning, Harvey.

HARVEY LEVIN, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE"": Hi, Carol.

LIN: All right, "Celebrity Justice" has some pretty interesting information on this case. For example, a little bit more about the child involved and how these charges came out.

LEVIN: Yes, there is so much going on. What we know is this, that there's a 12-year-old Los Angeles boy, and the way this whole thing got triggered was he was in a therapy session and said some things that alarmed the therapist. Under California law, that person has a legal duty to report child abuse if he either believes or has reason to believe that it exists, and we know that he went to authorities, and this is what started it all. In terms of what was said in the therapy session, we know one thing, the therapist says and the boy has now subsequently said to authorities that Michael Jackson replied him with wine before this alleged sexual abuse. That's a pretty damaging allegation. So it all started with that. You know, I talked to the boy's father yesterday. And we -- by the way, at "Celebrity Justice" we absolutely are not going to directly or indirectly identify who this boy is. We are just not going to go there.

So I'll only go this far, to say I thought it was kind of interesting that one of the things Michael Jackson had done according to this man he had given him a car, a Bronco, because his car broken down, and Michael Jackson basically gave him the car so that he could make it easier to go back and forth to the Neverland Ranch. I find that kind of interesting.

LIN: Yes, very interesting. How did the family get hooked up with Michael Jackson to begin with?

LEVIN: I just can't go there, Carol. It ends up divulging who they are, and I just don't want to do it. It just doesn't feel right to me.

LIN: Because, you know, a lot of us are wondering, especially after the allegations 10 years ago, back in 1993, why is it that some parents would even let their kids have a relationship with Michael Jackson? I understand you can't...

LEVIN: You know what, when you look at this case, I mean, this is not like, gee, knock me over with a feather. This has been 10 years in the making, and you've got Michael Jackson investigated by two law enforcement agencies 10 years ago, engaging in a $20 million settlement with a boy 10 years ago. And then basically bizarre conduct ever since then, including some pretty crazy things on these documentaries. So it's not as if this is a thunderbolt out of the blue. And you know, I think the question you raise is fair, but it's a fair question for anybody in America, because everybody knows about all of this stuff.

LIN: Harvey, did the father or the family tell you whether the boy would have to testify in any public capacity in this case?

LEVIN: No, all I can tell is you what the D.A. has, which is he said believes he has a willing boy to testify. But if I may, I'm not trying to be contrary this morning, Carol, but I think the D.A. overstates it a little bit. He says, the law says he has to testify there. You know what, there are laws that make it easier for a boy like this to testify. It can be done in chambers, it can be done in videotape, it can be done all sorts of way to make it more comfortable to the boy. But push comes to shove, this boy says it is too traumatic for me, I can't do it, I want to go away, just leave me alone. What are they going do? throw this boy in jail?

LIN: Right.

LEVIN: Ultimately, I don't think the teeth are there to make it airtight. It doesn't mean the case is falling apart, but I don't think you can never say never in a situation like this.

LIN: Harvey, I'm just wondering, you know, the family might be following, for example, the Kobe Bryant case, where in that case, the accuser, this young woman, has had her picture ended up on the Internet, her name published. I know she's an adult, but nevertheless, an alleged rape victim. I'm wondering if just the publicity of this case, whether the family is going to be up to actually pursuing these charges? What's their mindset there?

LEVIN: My mindset is this is one of the toughest things for a family to endure, and as bad as it is for an adult to deal with an alleged rape charge, think about a 12-year-old? I mean, it's just unbelievable. And, remember, 12-year-olds get teased. It's not just, oh gosh, you're going through this horrible thing. Twelve-year-olds have classmates and they are the object of scorn and ridicule. It is an enormously, enormously tough thing to go through. And I don't think you can minimize that in any situation like this.

I think this case might be a little bit different for a couple of reasons. No. 1, Michael Jackson, we understand, wrote a $20 million check this time. I don't think he's as flush with cash these days. Michael Jackson seems to have some money issues. That doesn't mean he can't leverage himself or do whatever if he wanted to try to settle something, but I think it would be a little bit harder. And I think just the scrutiny over the last 10 years. Ten years ago, you thought, wow, Michael Jackson investigated for child molestation?

LIN: All right, I'm sorry, Harvey, we lost the connection with you. That was Harvey Levin, executive producer of "Celebrity Justice," with some really interesting information. Harvey, was able to talk with the father of the child involved.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com