Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Michael Jackson on multiple counts of child molestation and have directed him to surrender and turn in his passport, Santa Barbara County authorities said Wednesday.

"The bail amount on the warrant has been set at $3 million," Sheriff Jim Anderson said.

District Attorney Tom Sneddon said Jackson faces multiple counts of lewd or lascivious contact with a child younger than 14. He could face a minimum of three years and a maximum of eight years in prison on each count if convicted.

Sneddon said child molestation charges will be filed in a "very short" period of time. No civil suit has been filed in the case and no civil suit is expected, he said.

"We have a cooperative victim in this particular proceeding," Sneddon said.

Jackson's Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, was searched Tuesday as part of the investigation, and two other search warrants were issued in Southern California, Anderson said.

Jackson's spokesman Stuart Backerman said the singer has been in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the past two-and-a-half weeks, shooting a video for the song "One More Chance." That single is on his "Number Ones" album, a greatest-hits collection released Tuesday by Epic Records.

Earlier, Backerman told CNN that Jackson's legal team was in talks with Santa Barbara authorities to arrange for Jackson to be taken into custody.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Santa Barbara police have not asked permission to arrest Jackson in Las Vegas, which they would do if they wanted to arrest him immediately rather than allowing him to return to Santa Barbara and turn himself in.

Attorney Mark Geragos -- who has been representing Scott Peterson in a high-profile California trial -- is a paid consultant on the legal team, but has not been determined to be Jackson's lead attorney, Backerman said.

About 70 officials from the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department and the district attorney's office searched the home for about 13 hours. There was no official word on what they were searching for or may have found.

Jackson's mansion is on a 2,600-acre estate about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Santa Barbara, and features amusement park rides, a petting zoo and statues of children.

According to Backerman, Jackson said: "I've seen lawyers who do not represent me and spokespeople who do not know me speaking for me. These characters always seem to surface with a dreadful allegation just as another project, an album, a video, is being released."

The allegations come almost a decade after Jackson settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of a boy who had slept over at Neverland Ranch when he was 13 and accused Jackson of molesting him. No criminal charges were filed in that case.

Attorney Larry R. Feldman, who represented the alleged victim in the 1993 child molestation lawsuit against Jackson, told CNN on Tuesday that he would "not confirm or deny" that he is representing anyone in a civil or criminal investigation pertaining to Jackson because of possible "violation of attorney-client privilege."

Brian Oxman, an attorney for the Jackson family, said on CNN's "Larry King Live" that he believes the investigation stems from someone else seeking financial gain from Jackson.

"It is a case of excitement and hysteria because we have the same accusations that we had 10 years ago," he said. "It's like playing the playoffs all over again."

Link to CNN Story

Please note that Larry R. Feldman is NOT leflaw.

Well if anyone saw the way Michael Jackson handled that baby it’s easy to see what’s going on (something abnormal) and I don’t mean holding it over the balcony. Its sick its like a toy or doll to him. It’s just a matter of time. I think this is an embarrassment for the Jackson family and a problem that should have been addressed long ago. Well we shall see how it unfolds. He could always try to be the prison warden’s asst.i don’t think he will last long n the general population in prison. But then again if your famous you get special treatment he will probably do 2 months in a luxury guarded condo with outpatient counseling. It would be nice if the Beatles can somehow get back their music after it’s all said and done.

as in any high profile legal case I will withhold judgement myself until I have enough facts.

I won't withhold judgment.

Any 40 year old man that goes on a national TV show and talks about letting children sleep in his bed.... is asking for it. And I read the affadavit of the kid from 1993-I find it highly improbable that Jacko isn't guilty as hell of a few things. Think Macauley Caulkin for a minute.

I dont think any any molestation has been proved. My observation as a parent and seeing the footage of Michael disturbed me quite a bit. In fact I was shocked it was being televised.

Me too-and I wonder what kind of person allows their child to go spend the night in Neverland.

While no molestation was ever "proved," I don't think an innocent man would agree to a $10 million dollar payoff-I don't care how much it cost me, if I were Jacko and I was innocent, I'd have spent my last dime clearing my name of that innuendo.

who did that expose or story on micheal i think it was from europe.I saw it in vegas in my hotel last year i think.I have a feeling that footage is very hard to find now.Where he is running with the baby at the zoo..and being really wierd.He needs to come back from neverneverland and back onto earth.

innocent til proven guilty chamone! eff everyone who condemned the man! he be a genius.

I'm just astounded that AFTER the 1993 allegations, parents were still sending their kids over there to have tickle fights with that pervert.

I'll bet some of 'em sent their kids over there HOPING their kids get fondled so that they could get the million-dollar payoff.

Even if the King of Weird is innocent of the child abuse allegations, he's still a nutcase and shoudn't be allowed any unsupervised visitation with children,(including his own), until he gets himself into serious therapy, something that should've happened a long,long time ago.

devilgotchi-go to the smoking gun site and read the affadavit.

And his continuation of his behavior is wrong-he's high-profile, 40+ years old, and even if innocent (which I frankly doubt) he should have known that if you stick your neck out far enough, the axe finds you.

The problem isnt with Wacko Jacko. The problem is with the money grubbing snot parents who want to cash in on Jacko using their kids as bait. These are the people who should be jailed. The LAST thing Jacko needs is to show his pee pee to little boys and go to jail. I'm sure he's well aware of scrutiny and has been careful. People dont understand that he's a just a Wacko kid who likes tickle fights.

"It is a case of excitement and hysteria because we have the same accusations that we had 10 years ago," he said. "It's like playing the playoffs all over again."

(If I am thinking of the same event) I seem to remember that back then, when the kid first came forward and said he could identify odd markings on Jacksons penis, Jackson high-tailed it out of the country (is why they want his passport). He ended up at a plastic surgury clinic in (sweden, switzerland, someplace) to have some odd markings removed from his penis. When he came back to the US, the proof had already been surgically removed.

Genius? Try pediphile. They should cut his head off on public TV and stick it on a spike outside of Santa Barbara as a warning to other child molesters.

We just have to wait and see what happens!

Whilst I agree Jacko left himself wide open to this and whilst I agree he is a bit odd. I really believe that he has not abused any children. Well maybe but his music but not with his body.

I really do believe that Jacko is 'childlike' in nature and does not 'Jackoff' to children.

This is another case of the media and people who got close taking advantage again.

Unless they can show proof (Like some photos or something) I take this all with a pinch of salt.

wonder when the RIAA is gonna mention us pirates and kiddie porn again =P

One thing I'd like to say on top of what I just said is that whenever anyone mentions the term 'paedophile' all sense of reason goes out the window. Someone only has to be accused of such a thing to be branded guilty.

I recall a few years back in Britain when the tabloids decided to launch their own hate campaign and sensationalize it by printing photos of known child abusers. Suddenly people who just 'looked' like anyone in those photos was targeted and had their homes vandalised and were forced to move. These were NOT the people in the phots. Just had the misfortune to resemble them.

It really annoys me the way people go off on these witch hunts without a shred of evidence. Comments like those of Etrigan really show peoples ignorance and lack independent thought.

The sheep flock together.

You know, unless I actually see someone do something or have affirmative firsthand knowledge, I personally give people the benefit of the doubt. I have no idea whether Mr. Jackson did or did not. Abuse of children in ANY way, is a horrible problem worldwide, and is extremely serious.

I agree that Mr. Jackson made some comments on television that were at odds with most prevailing community standards, but that alone, is not guilt of any wrongdoing, but in a time when prosecutors show their prowess by taking down a well known figure, Mr. Jackson , who is not a stupid man, really left himself open for such allegations by admissions against interest, by his statements concerning sleeping in the same room with children who are not his own.

I think it is so sad. In some ways, I see a parallel with Elvis saga. These well known rock stars who surround themselves with yes men, can get to some far out extremes when there is no one to give them a real mirror to where they are going with their behavior.

The irony is that Mr. Jackson seemed to just have "The Man in the Mirror", and not enough people who were not the man in the mirror, who had the guts to give him advice that perhaps what he was doing, might eventually lead to adverse consequences, even if what he was doing was benign and not illegal, it was certainly, odd.

While I agree with you in general DeadMan2003, Jackson is not being caught up in circumstances, nor has he gained his current stature without a shred of evidence. On the contrary, he has probably remained at large due to his ability to throw money at loose lips.

I would say that if 100 SB cops searched his pad for 10 hours, then they already had some hard evidence, and knew what they were looking for.

He got away last time by ditching the evidence (ala surgery) before he was picked up. Personally, I found it disheartening that people in general choose to ignore this little fact.

Why is it a witchhunt, and ignorant, and thoughtless, to say if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, and has witnesses to his "duckness", to call him a duck?

He is a nutcase, but I don't think he really wanted to hurt the kids.

Still, what parent in his/her right mind will let their kid play with Michael Jackson.

If they're gonna prosecute MJ, prosecute the parents too for child negligence.

God knows there are plenty of perverts out here in the real world. But as soon as a famous name is involved in any kind of suspicious behavior, the press cries guilty! If you have the misfortune to be involved in any kind of newsworthy crime, God help you. Your life will probably be ruined and whether innocent or guilty, you will always be guilty in the public eye. And even if you are not famous, you might have the kind of luck that allows that nothing else of interest happened that day, so you are the headline. As far as Michael Jackson goes, I think he was kidnapped by aliens a long time ago...he doesn't even vaguely resemble that cute kid that used to sing with his brothers.

You do know that what he said about Tommy Matolla head of Sony don't you?? He called him a racist and all kinds of other things. I don't believe he'd still be with them if he wasn't under contract and be so in debt. Since then just like Mariah Carrey who divorced his butt a long time ago.. their careers have plumited.. hmmm sound familiar?

I predict after surrender to authorities tomorrow bail will be posted. This time there is nowhere for Michael to run the world is his prison now. Micheal used to be a talented musician, alot of that vanished with Quincy Jones that is one thing that very few people recognize.

It's a publicity stunt.

There are allot of perverst out there, and I've always regarded Michael Jackson as kinda odd in that way (as in he is likely to do that sort of thing that sick freak) I hope they lock him away for a very long time and take all his personal assets including his ownership of all beatles music.

Sony has a clause in the partnership that says that Sony gets first bid before anybody else on the Beatles So if he loses it Sony will own it unfortunately. So i doubt the beatles will get their publishing catalog back, sony will take complete control of it.If i am not mistaken maybe code knows more or someone o the threads.

It's obvious that Micheal is wacked out of his mind, I think that's something we can all agree on but I don't think he molested children. I think he is just a very childlike person who never grew up and does actually like kids in a good way. Micheal invites underprivelidged children with diseases and disabilities out of the kindness of his heart. Yes, he is a very odd individual but I don't think he's a child molester. Besides, wouldn't a child moleslter with something so dark to hide not make it apparent by going on national TV and telling us that he shares his beds with 12 year olds? I think he's just a child in a mans body who has great intentions that is being eaten up by the evil media whores who need a story. As far as the raid goes I don't know why they would do that, i don't have the full story yet, but at this point I believe he is innocent..

Sorry-I don't think anyone would pay out $10 million (and know for sure that the impression he had something to hide would be left behind) unless-he had something to hide. That dog just won't hunt-Jacko is guilty as sin of some felonious behavior-we'll have to wait to see exactly what form it took.

Wonder what Bubbles the Chimp has to say about all this? Mike must have bought his silence with a gross of bananas

Okay, totally OT, but I've gotta add my two cents. What's the title of this article got to do with the RIAA ? kiddie porn? I read this in five paperrs this morning, and when I got here, I expected another argument about how the RIAA is tying in kiddie porn to downloading music, not a rehash of the MJ thing that's beginning. While I understand why it WAS posted, it could have been titled different.
just MHO
ttmmm

Well, I would agree that the title attached to this article was meant to underscore their hypocrisy and demagogy on this issue -- not only the "red herring" angle but also to cover their own sleazy tracks -- especially in the context of this development.

But back to Jacko: This whole situation he's gotten into, I have been told, is exactly the type of thing that we would get from somebody who never had any childhood at all -- as Jacko hadn't (from those who've read about his early years and the pre-Motown trajectory of The Jackson 5). Not that that's any excuse -- I've long been an advocate of the "personal responsibility" mantra (unlike the RIAA's collective-guilt, double-jeopardy ideology viz P2P users). But still, sometimes one's childhood (or lack thereof) can be a clue as to later in life.

I don't think he molested any children either.. The man has so much bull turds printed about him! I still say though the parents aren't going to sue him for money right now.. wait till they try afterwards with a civil trial.. and damn alot of shrinks put shit in kids heads too! I was molested at 11 by my stepfather who is dead now.. and I have forgiven but haven't forgotten! I think Michael is a very loving person and would do anything for kids to have fun.. not hurt them. I loved when Jermaine got on CNN and gave them all a peice of his mind about how people don't really know them and sit there talking about them as if they do.. really we don't. We just know what the press decides they want us to know. "sigh" I am going to keep an open mind about this though.. if they have proof then bring it on so we will be able to decide for ourselves. Did you all even watch the news today.. they pretty much pushed out the PROTESTS today to cover the story about Michaels arrest! And some bullshit story about the White House being evacuated because of some air breach and then the CIA said it was a false echo?? COME ON!!!!!!!! Thank god for other news stations like IN so we can see what happens in the world!

*******Hello****People********ITS NOT GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT



See that is the problem with most of you. You go by what the media tells you, Really people, who are you to judge another man? Last time I heard the news there was not metioning of any Saints going around. I just find it kind of intresting that the same prosecutor from the previous allegations is the same one as now. For all we know this old fart could of have been still upset from 1993. And now they trying to say that the laws were different back then. I say its all bull crap. If the state of CA. had any proof that these allegations were true they would of found a way for that kid to make a video or any other means to testify against Michael. Personally as a parent of 3 little girls, and being a rape victim as well around the age of these boys I was not afraid to tell what happen to me. So when these parents start to ask for money instead of justice makes me only wonder where are there morals. But then again we live in a society with a lot of lies, and corruption. I would not be amaze if this whole story took a twist to where Michael himself was set up. People wake up! if our court system have been known for executing innocent man, and sleep good at night. What makes you think that they can't go along with a lie and make it appear to look like it was true.


Things that make you say Hmmmm.....