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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK
Jackson Charges in Child Molestation Case
Aired December 19, 2003 - 06:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Right now on to the troubles at Neverland, the dramatic legal showdown in the Michael Jackson child molestation case. Formal charges have been filed -- nine counts in all. For all the latest, we head out to California, where CNN's Frank Buckley brings us the latest from there. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An employee of the district attorney's office walked the criminal complaint into the clerk's office, as cameras captured every step of the process. The three-page filing alleges that Jackson sexually abused a child under the age of 14 during two overlapping periods -- between February and March 10 of this year, and February 20 and March 10. There are nine counts in all. THOMAS SNEDDON, SANTA BARBARA DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Seven counts of 288a in violation of California Penal Code, commonly known as child molestation, and two counts in violation of Penal Code Section 222 that involves administering intoxicating liquor to a child for the purpose of committing a felony. BUCKLEY: Jackson was not required to and did not appear for the filing, but his attorney appeared before cameras in Los Angles to say Jackson would fight the charges with -- quote -- "every fiber of his soul." MARK GERAGOS, JACKSON ATTORNEY: And what we have here is an intersection between a shake down, somebody who's looking for money with somebody in an investigation that's got an axe to grind. BUCKLEY: Mark Geragos apparently referring to D.A. Tom Sneddon, who investigated Jackson on similar allegations in 1993, but did not bring charges then because the alleged victim ultimately reached a financial settlement with Jackson and refused to testify. Sneddon denies any vendetta, and he also rebutted critics who said the pause between Jackson's arrest on November 20 and the filing of charges on December 18 spoke to a less-than-solid case against Jackson. SNEDDON: Somehow we issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Jackson, and we're hoping to gather information in the meantime in order to buttress what some people have called a weak case. I want to categorically say that is false. BUCKLEY (on camera): D.A. Sneddon says in the filing that Jackson had -- quote -- "substantial sexual conduct with the alleged victim." Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos, strongly denies that allegation. He says there is no truth to any of the charges. Both sides will be in court on January 16 for Michael Jackson's arraignment. Frank Buckley, CNN, Santa Maria, California. (END VIDEOTAPE) TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
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