Jacko child sex quiz
Jacko ... ranch raided
By ANTONELLA LAZZERI and BRIAN FLYNN
MICHAEL Jackson was facing a quiz by cops last night over another sensational child sex claim.
A 12-year-old boy said the singer sexually abused him — with chilling echoes of a similar case in 1993.
Three dozen cops swooped on Jackson’s Neverland ranch and set up a mobile lab as they searched for photos, videos and letters.
Jackson was in Las Vegas. His lawyer Brian Oxman said: “Here we go again. This is insane.”
The family at the centre of new sex abuse claims have told cops they DON’T want a payoff, it was claimed last night.
Pop superstar Jacko handed former pal Jordy Chandler, 13, a multi-million pound out-of-court settlement following a similar storm ten years ago.
But US telly reporter Diane Dimond said: “My sources tell me the allegations are similar — but in this case the family have no interest in a settlement. They are interested in justice, not money.”
Dad-of-three Jacko, 45, has always maintained his innocence over sex abuse charges and the Jordy lawsuit was withdrawn.
But the singer faced a new row earlier this year after telling British journalist Martin Bashir he STILL slept with young boys at his home.
And yesterday some 36 investigators from the offices of the Santa Barbara County sheriff and district attorney swooped on his Neverland ranch in California — reportedly hunting any signs of abuse.
Playground ... Jackson's 2,600-acre Neverland
Picture: SPLASH
Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt Chris Pappas said the action was part of an “ongoing criminal investigation”.
Cops brought in a mobile crime lab and even a portable loo — indicating they planned a long search.
The officers, accompanied by an ambulance, arrived at about 8.30am local time in a fleet of cars with blacked-out windows.
They had obtained a search warrant from the district attorney rather than a grand jury to keep the raid secret.
According to US telly reports, the action followed claims by the 12-year-old that he was molested by Jackson, who was away in Las Vegas at the time of the swoop.
The search party — which included detectives, federal agents and a forensic search team — was led by Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon.
Jackson’s family lawyer Brian Oxman said he understood the allegations concerned a young boy.
He said: “The investigation is about a 12-year-old boy. This involves a molestation allegation. Sheriff’s deputies have been investigating this case for months.
“An ambulance has already come and gone and there’s a forensics van on the scene. Here we go again. This is insane.”
Jacko’s spokesman Stuart Backerman said later: “Michael will, as always, co-operate fully with authorities in any investigation even as it is conducted, yet again, while he is not home.”
Cops refused to release information on the search at Neverland, set in the heart of California’s wine-producing Santa Ynez area.
Search party ... police cars line up at Jackson's ranch
Picture: SPLASH
But reporter Diane, of cable channel Court TV, maintained it had followed sex allegations.
She said: “It is an ongoing criminal investigation and all documents relating to the case will be sealed due to the boy’s age.
“It was the same in the previous case back in 1993 — although since then we have found out what was said at the disposition, even though Jacko was never charged.”
Diane said police would be conducting a special search of Jackson’s private theatre complex.
She said: “They will be looking for the same sort of material as in 1993 — like photos and videos.
“I would say it is very likely they’ll be looking in the same room they did ten years ago.
“Jackson’s ranch has a zoo and theatre complex — and it is in the theatre complex that he used to, and may still have, a video set-up.
“Here he would film himself and others, and I’d imagine similar videos are what police are looking for.
“They will also be looking for things such as casting books which were seized in 1993. They are the type of thing used by film-makers — and Jackson often made films. So they would say things like, ‘I am looking for a boy between eight and 19 with pictures’.
“This sort of thing came out by the box-load in 1993. Ten years ago they found photos and poetry written for the boy making allegations.
“They will be looking for anything which will corroborate what this new boy has said. I do believe charges will be filed very soon.”
Swoop ... cops at ranch
Harvey Levin, creator of TV show Celebrity Justice, said: “This boy hasn’t arrived out of the blue. There is a parallel legal issue with what happened ten years ago.”
Cops at the ranch were also said to be searching Jacko’s computers.
Jackson, whose hit albums include Thriller and Bad, was said to be shocked by the raid and allegations.
He was told of the swoop while in Las Vegas recording the video for new single One More Chance.
A source close to the singer said: “No one can believe this. Michael was visibly shocked when he was told. None of us had any idea.”
The twice-wed singer had been due to leave Las Vegas last night, but it was thought he might delay his return to California.
The swoop came on the day Epic Records released Number Ones, a collection of Jacko’s greatest hits.
It also came in the same week that the star’s former private eye Anthony Pellicano was sent to jail for possessing illegal explosives.
Pellicano, 59, is said to have been employed to probe Jordy Chandler’s family during the 1993 scandal.
Last night Jacko’s pal Uri Geller described the new allegations as “earth shattering” for the singer.
Jacko ... ranch raided
By ANTONELLA LAZZERI and BRIAN FLYNN
MICHAEL Jackson was facing a quiz by cops last night over another sensational child sex claim.
A 12-year-old boy said the singer sexually abused him — with chilling echoes of a similar case in 1993.
Three dozen cops swooped on Jackson’s Neverland ranch and set up a mobile lab as they searched for photos, videos and letters.
Jackson was in Las Vegas. His lawyer Brian Oxman said: “Here we go again. This is insane.”
The family at the centre of new sex abuse claims have told cops they DON’T want a payoff, it was claimed last night.
Pop superstar Jacko handed former pal Jordy Chandler, 13, a multi-million pound out-of-court settlement following a similar storm ten years ago.
But US telly reporter Diane Dimond said: “My sources tell me the allegations are similar — but in this case the family have no interest in a settlement. They are interested in justice, not money.”
Dad-of-three Jacko, 45, has always maintained his innocence over sex abuse charges and the Jordy lawsuit was withdrawn.
But the singer faced a new row earlier this year after telling British journalist Martin Bashir he STILL slept with young boys at his home.
And yesterday some 36 investigators from the offices of the Santa Barbara County sheriff and district attorney swooped on his Neverland ranch in California — reportedly hunting any signs of abuse.
Playground ... Jackson's 2,600-acre Neverland
Picture: SPLASH
Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt Chris Pappas said the action was part of an “ongoing criminal investigation”.
Cops brought in a mobile crime lab and even a portable loo — indicating they planned a long search.
The officers, accompanied by an ambulance, arrived at about 8.30am local time in a fleet of cars with blacked-out windows.
They had obtained a search warrant from the district attorney rather than a grand jury to keep the raid secret.
According to US telly reports, the action followed claims by the 12-year-old that he was molested by Jackson, who was away in Las Vegas at the time of the swoop.
The search party — which included detectives, federal agents and a forensic search team — was led by Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon.
Jackson’s family lawyer Brian Oxman said he understood the allegations concerned a young boy.
He said: “The investigation is about a 12-year-old boy. This involves a molestation allegation. Sheriff’s deputies have been investigating this case for months.
“An ambulance has already come and gone and there’s a forensics van on the scene. Here we go again. This is insane.”
Jacko’s spokesman Stuart Backerman said later: “Michael will, as always, co-operate fully with authorities in any investigation even as it is conducted, yet again, while he is not home.”
Cops refused to release information on the search at Neverland, set in the heart of California’s wine-producing Santa Ynez area.
Search party ... police cars line up at Jackson's ranch
Picture: SPLASH
But reporter Diane, of cable channel Court TV, maintained it had followed sex allegations.
She said: “It is an ongoing criminal investigation and all documents relating to the case will be sealed due to the boy’s age.
“It was the same in the previous case back in 1993 — although since then we have found out what was said at the disposition, even though Jacko was never charged.”
Diane said police would be conducting a special search of Jackson’s private theatre complex.
She said: “They will be looking for the same sort of material as in 1993 — like photos and videos.
“I would say it is very likely they’ll be looking in the same room they did ten years ago.
“Jackson’s ranch has a zoo and theatre complex — and it is in the theatre complex that he used to, and may still have, a video set-up.
“Here he would film himself and others, and I’d imagine similar videos are what police are looking for.
“They will also be looking for things such as casting books which were seized in 1993. They are the type of thing used by film-makers — and Jackson often made films. So they would say things like, ‘I am looking for a boy between eight and 19 with pictures’.
“This sort of thing came out by the box-load in 1993. Ten years ago they found photos and poetry written for the boy making allegations.
“They will be looking for anything which will corroborate what this new boy has said. I do believe charges will be filed very soon.”
Swoop ... cops at ranch
Harvey Levin, creator of TV show Celebrity Justice, said: “This boy hasn’t arrived out of the blue. There is a parallel legal issue with what happened ten years ago.”
Cops at the ranch were also said to be searching Jacko’s computers.
Jackson, whose hit albums include Thriller and Bad, was said to be shocked by the raid and allegations.
He was told of the swoop while in Las Vegas recording the video for new single One More Chance.
A source close to the singer said: “No one can believe this. Michael was visibly shocked when he was told. None of us had any idea.”
The twice-wed singer had been due to leave Las Vegas last night, but it was thought he might delay his return to California.
The swoop came on the day Epic Records released Number Ones, a collection of Jacko’s greatest hits.
It also came in the same week that the star’s former private eye Anthony Pellicano was sent to jail for possessing illegal explosives.
Pellicano, 59, is said to have been employed to probe Jordy Chandler’s family during the 1993 scandal.
Last night Jacko’s pal Uri Geller described the new allegations as “earth shattering” for the singer.
