Michael Jackson's Other Legacy

JUNE 25--Michael Jackson's death today will trigger untold recaps of his tumultuous life, which included troubling allegations about his improper relationships with young boys. As we've previously detailed, the original claims against the singer surfaced in 1993, when a 12-year-old California boy charged that Jackson molested him on numerous occasions at the performer's Neverland Ranch and assorted hotels. The child's claims were detailed in a sworn declaration, a copy of which you'll find here, that was drafted in connection with a Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed by the boy and his family. That case was quickly settled out of court, reportedly for more than $15 million. In November 2003, Jackson would again face molestation charges, when Santa Barbara investigators raided his home seeking evidence to support claims from another teenager that he had been abused by the pop star. In April 2004, Jackson was named in a ten-count felony indictment (excerpts of the grand jury transcript can be found here, while an account of the prosecution's case is here). In June 2005, following a 14-week trial--and about 33 hours of deliberation--a jury acquitted Jackson of all charges. The trial (TSG's coverage of which can be found here) included testimony from witnesses who told of Jackson's longtime penchant for sharing his bed with young boys. (4 pages)