Michael Jackson to hear charges
Authorities prepare for large crowds
 | |
| |
|  VIDEO |
 CNN's Miguel Marquez on a grand jury's indictment of Michael Jackson.
|
RELATED |
• Media access again issue in Jackson case
|
|
(CNN) -- California court officials hope they can prevent the circus-like scene that overshadowed January's arraignment, when singer Michael Jackson appears Friday morning to hear the charges a grand jury returned against him last week.
Friday's court hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET) at Santa Barbara Superior Court in Santa Maria, California.
The grand jury investigated nine felony charges brought against Jackson -- seven felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an intoxicating agent. The singer pleaded not guilty to those counts in January.
The indictment has remained sealed since it was issued April 21.
The closed-door grand jury proceedings replaced a preliminary hearing, which is open to the public. Both proceedings are to determine whether there is enough evidence for a case to go to trial.
Friday's court session -- in effect a second arraignment -- promises to draw crowds much like those that thronged the street outside Santa Barbara County Superior Court in January. Following the January hearing, Jackson stunned his legal team by jumping on top of a vehicle and blowing kisses to the crowd. (Full story)
A statement on Jackson's Web site promised free buses would be provided for fans wishing to travel to the courthouse, in what was billed as the "Keep the Faith Caravan."
The Santa Maria Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and Santa Barbara Superior Court are coordinating security for what is expected to be a massive crowd.
"We have an enhanced security plan," Darrel Parker, Santa Barbara County Superior Court assistant executive officer, said earlier this week.
"That will include some passive restraints and visual deterrents: There will be about 900 feet of 6-foot-high fencing and double barricades to create a buffer between the crowds and the defendant."
Earlier this week, Jackson's legal team decided to revise its security as well by replacing the Nation of Islam with a private firm, a source familiar with the defense said. (Full story)
The shake-up in the Jackson camp followed last weekend's announcement that the entertainer had replaced both his lead attorneys, Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman. (Full story)
Brafman said he and Geragos had "stepped down" from Jackson's defense team over "complicated issues" he would not detail.
In a statement released Monday, Jackson said he personally decided to terminate their services and declared that the lawyers who now represent him in the case must devote their "full attention" to his defense.
"It is imperative that I have the full attention of those who are representing me. My life is at stake. Therefore, I must feel confident that my interests are of the highest priority," Jackson's statement said.
Jackson announced on his Web site that he had hired attorney Thomas Mesereau as lead counsel. Mesereau will accompany Jackson in court Friday, along with attorneys Steve Cochran and Robert Sanger of the original defense team, a source familiar with the case said.
