Jackson surrenders on molestation charges

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A handcuffed Michael Jackson walked into the Santa Barbara jail on Thursday to face child molestation charges that could destroy the pop superstar’s career and send him to prison for years.
A private jet carrying Jackson landed at the Santa Barbara airport shortly before noon and rolled its nose into the partly opened doors of a hangar. A caravan of cars left the hangar shortly afterward.
The 45-year-old King of Pop, his hands cuffed behind his back, entered the Santa Barbara County main jail shortly after noon, accompanied by defense attorney Mark Geragos, who said earlier he arranged the surrender.
Jackson left after posting bail, which was set at $3 million in a warrant. He waved to reporters, flashed a V-sign and climbed into a black Suburban that drove away with an escort of three sheriff’s motorcycle officers.
“He’s come back specifically to confront these charges head on,” Geragos said said earlier outside the jail. “He is greatly outraged by the bringing of these charges. He considers this to be a big lie. He understands the people who are outraged, because if these charges were true, I assure you Michael would be the first to be outraged.
“I’m here to tell you today, Michael has given me the authority to say on his behalf these charges are categorically untrue. He looks forward to getting into a courtroom as opposed to any other forum and confronting these accusations head on.”
Jermaine Jackson angrily defended his brother in an interview with CNN.
“The whole family supports Michael 100 percent, 1,000 percent. Michael is innocent,” he said Thursday.
“My brother is not eccentric. We had an incredible, wonderful childhood,” he said. “And what they’re doing is bringing him down with the very thing that he loved. … At the end of the day, this is nothing but a modern-day lynching.”
Earlier Thursday, Geragos confirmed that the surrender was being arranged in Santa Barbara, where throngs of camera crews and news reporters awaited his arrival.
Jackson had left North Las Vegas Airport aboard a leased jet late Thursday morning heading for Santa Barbara Municipal Airport. The jet was said to be carrying Jackson, his family and a bodyguard.
Jackson had been in Las Vegas filming a music video when dozens of law enforcement agents swarmed his Neverland Ranch compound near Santa Barbara on Tuesday to serve a search warrant.
Authorities announced Wednesday that an arrest warrant alleging child molestation had been issued. He had not been formally charged.
Jackson is charged by the state with lewd or lascivious acts with a child under age 14, punishable by three to eight years in prison, law enforcement officials said.
His attorney is also the defense attorney in the Laci Peterson murder case.