Elections Today
- Pennsylvania
Recent Projections
| State | Candidate | Delegates |
|---|---|---|
 Donald Trump | ||
Pennsylvania |  Joe Biden |
Grand Jury Indicts Michael Jackson
April 22 -- Michael Jackson was indicted Wednesday by a grand jury investigating allegations that the beleaguered King of Pop molested a boy at his Neverland estate, ABCNEWS has learned.
The panel met in Santa Barbara, Calif., for 13 days to consider whether there was enough evidence to charge Jackson, 45. The precise charges returned against the singer were not immediately known, but ABCNEWS has learned he will be arraigned on April 30 before Judge Rodney Melville in Santa Barbara Superior Court.
The grand jury reportedly has spent the last three weeks hearing from at leasta dozen witnesses, including the 14-year-old boy who claims the pop superstar sexually abused him. Jackson's lawyers had said earlier Wednesday that their client would plead not guilty if he were indicted.
"Mr. Jackson and his attorneys are confident that after a trial on these charges, Mr. Jackson will be fully exonerated and that the allegations contained in the indictment will be shown to be patently false," they said in a statement posted on the singer's Web site.
"In this case, Mr. Jackson is not just 'presumed' to be innocent but is in fact innocent. Michael is looking forward to his day in court and wishes to thank the millions of fans throughout the world who continue to support him during this difficult period," the statement said.
Indictment Expedites the Case
The indictment means the grand jury concluded there is enough evidence to believe that Jackson has committed a crime and should face trial.
Jackson, 45, was arrested on Nov. 20 and booked on child molestation charges after a 14-year-old boy alleged the singer sexually abused him during visits to Neverland. The boy was 12 at the time of the alleged abuse.
In January, Jackson pleaded not guilty to seven counts of lewd acts upon a child and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent.
Jackson is already free on $3 million bail. While the district attorney could ask for a new bond hearing, the stipulations of his release will likely remain the same.
