Grand Jury Indicts Michael Jackson
April 22 -- Michael Jackson has been indicted by a grand jury investigating allegations the "King of Pop" molested a boy at his Neverland estate, ABCNEWS has learned. That almost certainly clears the way for a trial later this year.
The 19-member panel decided to indict the pop legend Wednesday. Jurors met in closed sessions in Santa Barbara, Calif., for 13 days during the last three weeks to consider whether there was enough evidence to charge Jackson.
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 heard from at least a dozen witnesses, including the 14-year-old boy who claims the pop superstar sexually abused him, ABCNEWS confirmed. The boy was 12 at the time of the alleged abuse. The alleged victim's mother and younger brother also testified before the grand jury.
Legal experts say the indictment means jurors found some of the witnesses and the evidence compelling enough to bring the "King of Pop" to trial. Grand jurors did not have to be unanimous in their decision; only 12 of the 19 jurors had to agree to indict Jackson.
"Somebody was credible enough for some of these grand jurors on some of these counts to bring an indictment against Michael Jackson," said ABCNEWS Senior Legal Correspondent Cynthia McFadden. "What's interesting is we may not know until April 30 — and Michael Jackson may not know until April 30 — what the specifics of the counts are. California law permits them [prosecutors] not to tell him."
For Insight into Some of the Details of the Allegations Against Jackson click here.
Not ‘Presumed’ Innocent … Is Innocent
Jackson's lawyers said earlier Wednesday that their client would plead not guilty if he were indicted.
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