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American Morning

Second Child Claims Jackson Molested Him in 1993

Aired December 05, 2003 - 07:03   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get a look at the latest in the Michael Jackson case. CNN's now learning that a second child claimed back in 1993 that the singer molested him. In that same year, another accuser reached a financial settlement with Jackson. Sources close to the current investigation say that second accuser from 10 years ago could be called to testify in the current case.
Meanwhile, formal charges still have not been filed, raising questions about the strength of the prosecution's case.

Joining us this morning from Los Angeles, Pat Lalama of the TV show, "Celebrity Justice." She is following this case closely.

Pat, nice to see you again. Thanks for joining us.

PAT LALAMA, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Thanks for inviting me.

O'BRIEN: My pleasure. Let's begin what CNN has learned about this second child who claimed back in 1993 about being molested as well. Investigators apparently have these claims on audiotape. What do you know about this?

LALAMA: Well, those of us who have been out here long enough to remember that case and covering it do know that there was talk of a second victim. And that that second victim, his mother was, let's say, within is the employee circle of Michael Jackson, and that they in the end cut a deal as well. My understanding is when the case began to fall apart, because the original witness backed out and got the big deal, that that was the house of cards falling after that.

O'BRIEN: Former Santa Barbara Sheriff Jim Thomas, who conducted that original investigation back in 1993, told CNN that the investigation into that second child, who was sort of 9 or 10 years old at the time, was too ashamed to come forward and testify. Does that mean, in this case now today, Michael Jackson could face this child or at least those audiotapes in court if this goes to trial?

LALAMA: It could be. It could be part of the evidence in this case. We'll have to see how it pans out.

One of the things I do want to talk about, if you don't mind, is this talk of a weak case because formal charges have not been filed. I think it's really important for people to understand that in the state of California, that's a very common occurrence. In the case of actor Robert Blake, it took a year after his arrest to file charges. In the case of Phil Specter, the music producer, it took eight months before they filed charges. It doesn't necessarily mean that the case is weakened. It may mean that we are presenting these people to the public as the people we believe are responsible, and then perhaps that will shake the leaves from the tree and they can build an even stronger case before charges are filed.

O'BRIEN: So, then, conversely, you're saying not a weak case, but actually it could mean that they're gathering more information. How has the tip line -- they put out this information for this tip line. Has the tip line garnered any sort of response, any sort of good leads for investigators?

LALAMA: My understanding is that in the very beginning, there were hundreds of calls, and that would be -- you would expect that after the announcement of an arrest in this case, especially when it's a superstar arrest. My understanding is, though, recently being able to whittle a lot of those down, there isn't a lot of big concrete information, but that there are nuggets of things that are forcing the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department to go out and investigate, and perhaps strengthen their case.

O'BRIEN: There is a report, and it comes out of the "L.A. Times" today, that there might be a witness to the molestation of this boy, the current case that's being discussed. Again, he hasn't gone to trial. He hasn't been charged officially yet. How would that -- the witness being the boy's brother. How would this impact the case, do you think?

LALAMA: Well, I think if he was a visual witness, if he was there, I think it would have great strength. I think it would have great credibility.

You know, it's interesting to me that people bring up the fact that parents who are dysfunctional or broken families or look for money and like to sue people can't possibly have their children be victimized by a superstar. I think both can happen. I think it's very important to understand that these children, that pedophiles -- and I'm not saying Michael Jackson is at all. I'm just saying from the studies I've done and the research I've done and the interviews I've done with convicted pedophiles, they will go for children who live in vulnerable situations and broken situations. And I think that this could possibly be that example.

O'BRIEN: No official charges filed. This case, of course...

LALAMA: Yes, right.

O'BRIEN: ... has not gone anywhere near to trial yet. Pat Lalama, thanks for joining us this morning. Appreciate it.

LALAMA: My pleasure.

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 5, 2003 - 07:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get a look at the latest in the Michael Jackson case. CNN's now learning that a second child claimed back in 1993 that the singer molested him. In that same year, another accuser reached a financial settlement with Jackson. Sources close to the current investigation say that second accuser from 10 years ago could be called to testify in the current case.
Meanwhile, formal charges still have not been filed, raising questions about the strength of the prosecution's case.

Joining us this morning from Los Angeles, Pat Lalama of the TV show, "Celebrity Justice." She is following this case closely.

Pat, nice to see you again. Thanks for joining us.

PAT LALAMA, "CELEBRITY JUSTICE": Thanks for inviting me.

O'BRIEN: My pleasure. Let's begin what CNN has learned about this second child who claimed back in 1993 about being molested as well. Investigators apparently have these claims on audiotape. What do you know about this?

LALAMA: Well, those of us who have been out here long enough to remember that case and covering it do know that there was talk of a second victim. And that that second victim, his mother was, let's say, within is the employee circle of Michael Jackson, and that they in the end cut a deal as well. My understanding is when the case began to fall apart, because the original witness backed out and got the big deal, that that was the house of cards falling after that.

O'BRIEN: Former Santa Barbara Sheriff Jim Thomas, who conducted that original investigation back in 1993, told CNN that the investigation into that second child, who was sort of 9 or 10 years old at the time, was too ashamed to come forward and testify. Does that mean, in this case now today, Michael Jackson could face this child or at least those audiotapes in court if this goes to trial?

LALAMA: It could be. It could be part of the evidence in this case. We'll have to see how it pans out.

One of the things I do want to talk about, if you don't mind, is this talk of a weak case because formal charges have not been filed. I think it's really important for people to understand that in the state of California, that's a very common occurrence. In the case of actor Robert Blake, it took a year after his arrest to file charges. In the case of Phil Specter, the music producer, it took eight months before they filed charges. It doesn't necessarily mean that the case is weakened. It may mean that we are presenting these people to the public as the people we believe are responsible, and then perhaps that will shake the leaves from the tree and they can build an even stronger case before charges are filed.

O'BRIEN: So, then, conversely, you're saying not a weak case, but actually it could mean that they're gathering more information. How has the tip line -- they put out this information for this tip line. Has the tip line garnered any sort of response, any sort of good leads for investigators?

LALAMA: My understanding is that in the very beginning, there were hundreds of calls, and that would be -- you would expect that after the announcement of an arrest in this case, especially when it's a superstar arrest. My understanding is, though, recently being able to whittle a lot of those down, there isn't a lot of big concrete information, but that there are nuggets of things that are forcing the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department to go out and investigate, and perhaps strengthen their case.

O'BRIEN: There is a report, and it comes out of the "L.A. Times" today, that there might be a witness to the molestation of this boy, the current case that's being discussed. Again, he hasn't gone to trial. He hasn't been charged officially yet. How would that -- the witness being the boy's brother. How would this impact the case, do you think?

LALAMA: Well, I think if he was a visual witness, if he was there, I think it would have great strength. I think it would have great credibility.

You know, it's interesting to me that people bring up the fact that parents who are dysfunctional or broken families or look for money and like to sue people can't possibly have their children be victimized by a superstar. I think both can happen. I think it's very important to understand that these children, that pedophiles -- and I'm not saying Michael Jackson is at all. I'm just saying from the studies I've done and the research I've done and the interviews I've done with convicted pedophiles, they will go for children who live in vulnerable situations and broken situations. And I think that this could possibly be that example.

O'BRIEN: No official charges filed. This case, of course...

LALAMA: Yes, right.

O'BRIEN: ... has not gone anywhere near to trial yet. Pat Lalama, thanks for joining us this morning. Appreciate it.

LALAMA: My pleasure.

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