Michael Jackson's Doctor, Conrad Murray, in Los Angeles Awaiting Likely Indictment
Sources say Murray could be charged with involuntary manslaughter this week.
Feb. 2, 2010— -- Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician who allegedly gave Michael Jackson several doses of powerful painkillers and anesthetics just before his death, will likely be charged with involuntary manslaughter late this week or next week, sources told ABCNews.com.
Murray, a Houston-based cardiologist, arrived in Los Angeles last week and his lawyer Edward Chernoff plans to join him, said spokeswoman Miranda Sevcik.
"Dr. Murray is in Los Angeles for a dual purpose -- on family business and to be available for law enforcement," Sevcik told The Associated Press. "We're trying to be as cooperative as we can."
Prosecutors have not officially said when or if they plan to indict Murray, but sources said the doctor will likely be indicted soon through a criminal complaint rather than by a grand jury.
If charged, Murray plans to cooperate with authorities and turn himself in, said sources.
A manslaughter conviction in California caries a potential sentence of two to four years in prison.
Murray has been the principle subject of a months-long homicide investigation into the pop star's June 25 death.
According to police reports, Murray found Jackson, 50, dead in the singer's Los Angeles rental home before administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation and requesting that a Jackson employee call 911.
In October, the coroner's office released a statement saying Jackson had died from an overdose of the hospital-grade anesthetic propofol.
The coroner also cited the powerful sedative benzodiazepine as contributing to the singer's death. A toxicology screen and search of Jackson's home found several other drugs in the singer's body and bedroom.
Murray was hired to accompany Jackson for a scheduled series of concerts to be held in London last summer. Jackson died just weeks before the tour was to begin.
Murray has denied any criminal wrongdoing.
"We continue to maintain that Dr. Murray neither prescribed nor administered anything that should have killed Michael Jackson," Sevcik said.
After the homicide investigation was launched, a slew of liens and lawsuits against Murray were discovered. In the last three years, Murray has faced lawsuits for unpaid business bills totaling over $700,000, including rent on his medical offices.