Key Prosecution Witness in Michael Jackson Case Jailed
Former Jackson Bodyguard Arrested in Las Vegas on Burglary, Robbery, Kidnap Charges
By EILEEN MURPHY and JIM AVILA
March 23, 2005 --
One of the prosecution's most important witnesses in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial has been jailed in Las Vegas on charges of burglary, robbery and first-degree kidnapping, all with a deadly weapon, ABC News has learned.
Watch Jim Avila's report Thursday on "Good Morning America."
Chris Carter, 25, was arrested Feb. 19 and is being held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, records show. He had been the pop star's personal bodyguard during the time the alleged molestation took place and has been cooperating with the prosecution.
Jackson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor and plied the boy with alcohol. The boy, now 15, has testified to having been given wine, which he said Jackson called "Jesus juice," at Jackson's Neverland ranch.
Carter's testimony is expected to provide more corroboration of the accuser's story than that of any witness aside from a family member. He is the only witness independent of the accuser's family who has put Jackson and the boy drinking together.
In his grand jury testimony, Carter also said he saw children drinking at Jackson's Neverland ranch, that he saw the accuser drunk and that the accuser said Jackson was "OK" with it, and that the accuser and his younger brother frequently slept in the pop star's room.
Carter's testimony is considered important because he was close to Jackson and spent a great deal of time in the presence of the pop star, including occasions when the singer was with the accuser and his family.
Carter's arrest would not prevent him from testifying at Jackson's trial, and authorities in Santa Barbara County, Calif., still want him to testify. He has been approved for transport to Santa Barbara for an April appearance.
However, a source close to the case says the defense could use the arrest to try to put his integrity in question.
Carter's lawyer would not discuss the details of the arrest. He said Carter has pleaded not guilty, and he is trying to get the bail reduced. Carter has a status hearing on Monday.
Carter Said He Saw Jackson, Boy Sharing Drink
According to grand jury transcripts, Carter said he saw the pop star and his accuser drinking alcohol on a flight from Miami to Santa Barbara after a British documentary on the pop star aired on ABC. He said they drank alcohol out of soda cans.
"Mr. Jackson was drinking, and then [the accuser] had the Coke can or the Pepsi can, it was a can, with drink -- with alcohol in it," Carter said. "I seen [the accuser], he had it in his hand. And then Michael had it and was drinking."
Carter also said that Jackson called alcohol "'Jesus juice" in front of children. "He said, 'Jesus drank wine, so we shall be more like Jesus,'" Carter said in his grand jury testimony.
Carter said he knew there was alcohol in the soda cans because he saw the flight attendant add alcohol to them. "It was just clear liquor, like a vodka looking. It's small ones they have on the plane," he said.
'Part of Being a Man'
In his grand jury testimony, Carter also gave an account of discovering the accuser drunk on the grounds of Jackson's Neverland estate.
"On one occasion, I seen [the accuser] stumbling around. And I had walked up to him, 'Hey, man, what's going on?'" Carter said.
"We had a little talk, and I told him, you know, 'You shouldn't be drinking,' and everything. And he said, 'Well, I can handle it. Michael said if I can handle it, it's OK. It's part of being a man.'"
In separate questioning before the grand jury, Carter said the accuser admitted to him that he had been drunk. "He was pretty bad," Carter said.
Carter also told of other children drinking at Neverland. "Some of the kids would go off and grab the key to the wine cellar, run down and pull whatever they wanted out, and then come and run around with Mr. Jackson drinking," he said.
Asked where the accuser and his brother slept when they were visiting Neverland, Carter replied, "Mainly they would sleep with Mr. Jackson in Mr. Jackson's room."