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Formal Charges Expected Today Against Michael Jackson

Aired December 18, 2003 - 15:12   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In just about an hour, we're expected to hear and see prosecutors file formal charges against Michael Jackson weeks after the pop star's high-profile booking on alleged molestation charges.
CNN's Miguel Marquez is following the case. He joins us now live from Santa Maria, California, with the latest -- Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you there, Kyra?

A little less than an hour now, we expect to see charges filed. I want to show you what's going on here live right now. We've been all morning long. The press is already gathered. There's dozens and dozens of cameras out here.

And off to my left, you can see this in a gaggle. Those are most of the reporters gathered here, although there are lots more people here. They're being briefed by the district attorney's new P.R. company, Tellem Worldwide. They've hired a Los Angeles-based company to do their public relations out here simply because of what you see here, just so many press people, so many questions and so many concerns about everyone getting access to information and getting access to the story.

The information we expect to see today from Mr. Sneddon, who showed up here just a short time ago -- Tom Sneddon is the DA of Santa Barbara county, these charges being brought in Santa Maria, in the northern part of Santa Barbara County. We expect to see not only sort of a timeline, the dates when these allegations may have been -- occurred, how many of them may have occurred, but also some detail, possibly quite detailed information about what exactly occurred, or at least they're alleging occurred, between Michael Jackson and this teenage boy.

This is important, because there was a memo leaked earlier from the children's welfare department that seemed to indicate -- or exonerate Mr. Jackson. But if those charges that Mr. Sneddon is bringing today occurred after that memo and after that investigation took place, obviously, that would bode quite well for his case.

Whatever is in those charges, one attorney who knows Mr. Sneddon and knows this case and knows the way things work up here in Santa Barbara County, if they're very, very graphic, he said, that could work against Michael Jackson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE BALASH, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It can be a real turnoff to the public if you get very detailed, because, whether they're true or not, that's what the public's going to hear. So I don't believe there's anything to prevent a prosecutor from being very detailed. And I know I've had charges alleged both ways. And when you get those really detailed charges, you really don't want to read about it in the paper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Now, the arraignment date was supposed to be on January 9. That's the next time we expect to see Mr. Jackson or at least possibly Mr. Jackson in court. He's not expected here today. But that's been moved to January 16, because, apparently, there's a deal between the prosecutor and Mr. Jackson's attorney to allow him to travel to Great Britain for about 2 1/2 weeks. He gets his passport back.

And between the 20th of this month, on Saturday, and the 6th of next month, Mr. Jackson may be out of the country for a business trip in Great Britain, we understand. Don't know if that includes a concert or not. But we understand he will be out of town. There may also be a party at Mr. Jackson's Neverland Ranch this Saturday to support him -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Miguel Marquez, we'll check in with you soon.

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 December 18, 2003 - 15:12   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In just about an hour, we're expected to hear and see prosecutors file formal charges against Michael Jackson weeks after the pop star's high-profile booking on alleged molestation charges.
CNN's Miguel Marquez is following the case. He joins us now live from Santa Maria, California, with the latest -- Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How are you there, Kyra?

A little less than an hour now, we expect to see charges filed. I want to show you what's going on here live right now. We've been all morning long. The press is already gathered. There's dozens and dozens of cameras out here.

And off to my left, you can see this in a gaggle. Those are most of the reporters gathered here, although there are lots more people here. They're being briefed by the district attorney's new P.R. company, Tellem Worldwide. They've hired a Los Angeles-based company to do their public relations out here simply because of what you see here, just so many press people, so many questions and so many concerns about everyone getting access to information and getting access to the story.

The information we expect to see today from Mr. Sneddon, who showed up here just a short time ago -- Tom Sneddon is the DA of Santa Barbara county, these charges being brought in Santa Maria, in the northern part of Santa Barbara County. We expect to see not only sort of a timeline, the dates when these allegations may have been -- occurred, how many of them may have occurred, but also some detail, possibly quite detailed information about what exactly occurred, or at least they're alleging occurred, between Michael Jackson and this teenage boy.

This is important, because there was a memo leaked earlier from the children's welfare department that seemed to indicate -- or exonerate Mr. Jackson. But if those charges that Mr. Sneddon is bringing today occurred after that memo and after that investigation took place, obviously, that would bode quite well for his case.

Whatever is in those charges, one attorney who knows Mr. Sneddon and knows this case and knows the way things work up here in Santa Barbara County, if they're very, very graphic, he said, that could work against Michael Jackson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE BALASH, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It can be a real turnoff to the public if you get very detailed, because, whether they're true or not, that's what the public's going to hear. So I don't believe there's anything to prevent a prosecutor from being very detailed. And I know I've had charges alleged both ways. And when you get those really detailed charges, you really don't want to read about it in the paper.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Now, the arraignment date was supposed to be on January 9. That's the next time we expect to see Mr. Jackson or at least possibly Mr. Jackson in court. He's not expected here today. But that's been moved to January 16, because, apparently, there's a deal between the prosecutor and Mr. Jackson's attorney to allow him to travel to Great Britain for about 2 1/2 weeks. He gets his passport back.

And between the 20th of this month, on Saturday, and the 6th of next month, Mr. Jackson may be out of the country for a business trip in Great Britain, we understand. Don't know if that includes a concert or not. But we understand he will be out of town. There may also be a party at Mr. Jackson's Neverland Ranch this Saturday to support him -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Miguel Marquez, we'll check in with you soon.

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