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Jackson arrested, bailed for US$3m

This booking photo released by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department in California on Thursday shows pop star Michael Jackson during his arrest. PHOTO: AFP

Setting the stage for what could be one of the most sensational celebrity court cases, pop superstar Michael Jackson, his wrists bound in handcuffs, surrendered to authorities to face allegations of child molestation.

Jackson was booked, fingerprinted and photographed Thursday, and was ordered to appear in court Jan. 9 for arraignment. Authorities said they expected to file charges after sometime after Nov. 27.

After being released on US$3 million bail, the self-styled King of Pop returned by private jet to Las Vegas, where he had been filming a music video Tuesday -- the day authorities swarmed his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County.

"He is greatly outraged by the bringing of these charges," said his attorney, Mark Geragos. "He considers this to be a big lie," Geragos said.

Wearing a black suit, white shirt and white tie, Jackson waved to reporters and flashed a V-sign before leaving the jail in a vehicle that returned him to the airport.

"Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons. The truth will win this marathon in court," the entertainer said in a statement issued by spokesman Stuart Backerman.

Jackson dominated popular music in the 1980s with his catchy dance music, but his career has been in decline. His reputation was damaged in part by a similar allegation 10 years ago that never resulted in charges because the alleged victim declined to cooperate with police.

Jackson, who reportedly paid a multimillion-dollar settlement in that case, has maintained his innocence.

The district attorney has said the youngster in the latest case is cooperating with investigators and has no plans to sue. He also said prosecutors could be helped by a law, passed since the earlier Jackson investigation, that was designed to keep civil suits from interfering with criminal cases.

Authorities would say little about the most recent allegations beyond referring to the arrest warrant, which alleges violations of a law prohibiting lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. Such a crime is punishable by three to eight years in prison.

"District Attorney Tom Sneddon has announced that no charges will be filed until after Thanksgiving," said Sergeant Chris Pappas, spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department.

Media reports have said the alleged victim is a 12- or 13-year-old boy who visited Jackson at his Neverland Ranch, a storybook playland where the singer was known to hold sleepovers for children and share his bed with youngsters.

Pappas characterized Jackson and his representatives as being cooperative during the 30- to 45-minute booking process. His booking photo, released by authorities, showed a wide-eyed and pale Jackson with bright red lips and arched eyebrows staring into the camera.

As Jackson left jail, his assistants tried to shield him from a phalanx of TV cameras by holding up sheets, but he was visible to helicopter cameras. Groups of people on roadsides waved at his passing motorcade and some ran up to the car whenever it stopped.

Television helicopters followed the motorcade's roundabout, two-hour, 48km route to the Green Valley Ranch hotel-casino in Henderson, where Jackson has been staying.

One person along the route held up a homemade sign proclaiming "Moonwalk 2 jail," a reference to the entertainer's signature dance moves.

"I love his music, but I don't know if I can support him now. This is his second time. I can't believe him anymore," said 22-year-old college student Cesar Mendoza.

After leaving California, the entertainer, who has three young children, arrived at a Las Vegas-area airport, where what appeared to be three children covered by blankets were carried aboard his plane by assistants. They were then carried off, and Jackson exited the plane as well.

Michael Dean, deputy director of Santa Barbara County Social Services, declined to say whether there were plans to take Jackson's children into protective custody, citing confidentiality rules.
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