[CrimsonTide4]

Lawyer Wants Jackson's Children Removed
27 minutes ago

By JEREMIAH MARQUEZ, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - An attorney who has clashed with Michael Jackson (news) in the past is seeking a child-welfare probe of the pop star and urged authorities to take away custody of his three children because of the new sex abuse allegations.

Attorney Gloria Allred's demand came Friday, a day after Jackson posted $3 million bail in Santa Barbara and returned to Las Vegas, where he had been filming a music video.


While Jackson's whereabouts Saturday were unclear, fans planned to offer their support with candlelight vigils and rallies in cities around the world, including Los Angeles, New York, Rome, Budapest and London.


"It's really a symbolic action because it's being held all over the world. We would like our side of the story, our opinions, to be heard," said Diana d'Alo, one of the organizers of the London vigil.


Jackson, meanwhile, was apparently planning to return to his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County. His lawyer, Mark Geragos, told the Los Angeles Times he planned to meet with him there Saturday. He didn't say when.


Geragos had high praise for his client in his comments to the Times.


"Michael is one of the most brilliant, intelligent, strongest human beings I have ever had the pleasure of meeting," the lawyer said. "I couldn't be more impressed with him."


The Times, citing a source it didn't identify, said Jackson's accuser first reported the alleged molestation to a therapist, who in turn informed Santa Barbara County sheriff's officials last June. An arrest warrant alleges Jackson committed lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14.


Media reports have said the alleged victim is a 12- or 13-year-old cancer survivor who visited Jackson at Neverland, a storybook playland where the singer, who has befriended several cancer victims, was known to hold sleep-overs for children and share his bed with youngsters.


Allred briefly represented a 13-year-old boy involved in a molestation allegation against Jackson a decade ago. The case never led to criminal charges, but reportedly ended with Jackson, 45, paying a multimillion-dollar civil settlement.


At a news conference Friday, Allred said she has twice asked child-welfare officials to investigate Jackson.


She said she is concerned because of his statements about sleep-overs with children, the molestation allegations and an incident in which he dangled his baby son outside the window of a German hotel last year.


"I believe the children should be temporarily removed from Mr. Jackson's care and custody because of the history of Michael Jackson with children ... combined with present criminal allegations," she said.


Jackson spokesman Stuart Backerman had no comment on Allred's demand, but it was denounced by Brian Oxman, an attorney who has represented members of the Jackson family, although not Michael Jackson.


"It is outrageous that she should seek such media attention for her own aggrandizement. She is attacking Michael for her own benefit. She is a citizen who has no interest, no participation in this case. She has no client. She is injecting herself in this with ignorance and brazenness," Oxman said.


Jackson has two boys, 6-year-old Prince Michael I and the baby, Prince Michael II. He also has a 5-year-old daughter, Paris. Little is known about Prince Michael II, whose mother has not been identified. Prince Michael I and Paris were born during his marriage to nurse Debbie Rowe, which ended in 1999.


Allred said authorities have the power to intervene when there is a "substantial risk that a child will be sexually abused by his or her parent" and shouldn't wait until the outcome of any criminal case.





The Santa Barbara County district attorney does not plan to file charges until after Thanksgiving.

Michael X. Dean, deputy director of Santa Barbara County Social Services, has declined to say whether there are plans to take Jackson's children into custody.

Dean said that, generally, criminal charges can prompt a child welfare investigation, but he added that such an investigation is not automatic.

Jackson, meanwhile, was finding some sympathy among music associates.

Quincy Jones (news), producer of Jackson's landmark "Thriller" album, told the syndicated TV program "Access Hollywood" he was concerned about the media coverage of the case.

"I don't know what to think about it. We are bombarded all day with choices from the Beltway Sniper to Laci Peterson (news - web sites). It never stops, you know, sensationalism in the media," Jones said.