MJDB临时新闻帖(中英文新闻尽在此地，MJDB成员前来选择翻译）！！

吸血姬美夕

[这个贴子最后由吸血姬美夕在 2004/04/30 1024am 第 3 次编辑]第112楼的翻译：Michael再次解雇保安团队UPDATED: 1:16 PM PDT April 29, 2004离奇的加利福尼亚州圣玛丽小镇，，在星期五将成为被围攻的城市，因为Michael Jackson 要重返法庭了。上次，流行之王和他的古罗马军团歌迷们创造的马戏团气氛使得许多市政府官员们局促不安。但是，他们不打算在这次失去控制而且非常乐意给任何行为不端的人扣上手铐。当Jackson据传闻已经割断与他的伊斯兰组织保安团队之间联系的消息爆出来后，“好莱坞直通车”已经意识到他的新团队也不会持续太久。“我们今天早上被通知的第一件事就是Michael Jackson 已经终止与他的新保安团队的合同，尽管这个合同仅在一天前签署，”圣玛丽警察Chief Danny Macagni 告诉我们。但是无论谁在周五保护Michael，他们将可能看见他穿着Willie Scott设计的衣服。Jackson给Scott（王子最近形象的设计师）打电话，请他为近期出庭设计服装。“我只有48小时去完成这项工作，所以我飞过去并且我们使它完成了，”Willie说。为了他们的第一次会面， Willie穿了一件他认为会适合流行之王的衣服。“他说他喜欢这个颜色和质地，而且他乐于加入他个人的一点才能来完成它，事情就是这样进行的，”设计师批露说。Willie已经为临近的审判创造了很多款式，而且他说如果Jackson喜欢他已经为他的每天设计了新的衣服。“这是去赢得的一片蛋糕，”他补充道。 [em13]:

Source: MJ Accuser's Mother Uses Court Props Expect no more than 150 Michael Jackson (search) fans today at the Santa Maria courthouse. Only three buses have been arranged for, I am told, a very small showing for the King of Pop. Everyone in the Jackson camp is hoping for a much calmer scene today than the one two months ago. No dancing on limos. No Nation of Islam (search) bodyguards. Fans — even small numbers — will remain behind barricades. Meanwhile, I've recently learned that the father of the 14-year-old boy at the center of the case and his attorney, H. Russell Halpern, testified before the grand jury that indicted Jackson. Before Judge Rodney Melville issued his gag order to all participants, the father reportedly questioned his ex-wife's veracity on subjects ranging from their divorce to the family's involvement with Jackson. In one instance, at a family court appearance in 2001 concerning her divorce, I am told that the boy's mother arrived and remained in a wheelchair — much the same way TV characters wear fake neck braces and splints on sitcoms. "No one could figure it out," a source tells me. "There was nothing wrong with her." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118601,00.html --------------------------------LINDA DEUTSCH:Jackson can plead innocent or he can decline to enter a plea if his lawyer says he needs more time to study the document this time.As for Jackson, Geragos said: "I truly, truly wish him well and am hopeful for a favorable outcome for Michael."

The Michael Jackson case: A DA's vendettaBy K.C. ArceneauxRAW STORY CONTRIBUTORThe role of a District Attorney is to seek the truth, not to seek conviction at all costs. There are strong indications that Tom Sneddon, the District Attorney prosecuting Michael Jackson for alleged child molestation, is driven more by a vendetta than a search for the truth. ABC News reported on Thursday that they had seen a document signed by Sneddon indicating that he personally investigated aspects of the case that were "most often handled by the police." They added that Sneddon met alone with the alleged victim's mother in a parking lot, an action that might place him as a witness his own case. Moreover, they claimed that Sneddon took photographs of the office of a private investigator employed by Jackson, and may have met with the accuser's mother on at least one other occasion. He may have also handled some of the stakeouts himself. It is highly irregular that these activities were undertaken without the presence of the police or investigators, and adds credence to the idea that Sneddon is not impartial enough to prosecute the Jackson case. Tom Sneddon has consistently used the media to sway public opinion against Jackson. The televised scene of the raid on Nov. 18, 2003 on Jackson's Neverland ranch would have been more worthy of a raid on the home of a serial killer than on the home of an entertainer with no prior police record. Sneddon tipped off Court TV reporter Diane Dimond about the raid and reported the event live from Neverland. The timing of the raid was on precisely the day Jackson released his new CD, "Number Ones." Indeed, the tone of the press conference following the raid was inappropriately gleeful, with Sneddon remarking, "Like I listen to that kind of music." Sneddon later apologized for his levity. Subsequently, he referred to Jackson as "MJ Wacko" in an interview with Dimond. He later apologized for these remarks, as well. Following the filing of charges against Jackson on Dec. 18, 2003, Sneddon summarily dismissed the Los Angeles Police Department and the Department of Children and Family Services investigations of Jackson. The investigations concluded that complaints of molestation had been unfounded."They have a lot of problems down there [in LA] and that office has a lot of problems," he quipped.What he failed to mention was that the Santa Barbara Children's Services and Santa Barbara law enforcement had conducted similar investigations and had come to similar conclusions. Jackson's three million dollar bail was three times that of the average murderer and nearly fifty times that of the bail schedule for the alleged crimes. Sneddon has hired a public relations firm, and there is a web-site devoted to the case. It is assumed that the wheels of justice are turning smoothly. The public remains largely unaware that currently, Tom Sneddon is being sued for $10 million for malicious prosecution by Santa Barbara defense attorney Gary Dunlap. Dunlap alleges that Sneddon violated his civil rights on twenty-two counts, including wire-tapping, illegal search and seizure, and the cover-up of misconduct by editing tapes. Dunlap was charged, tried and acquitted on all counts. Dunlap went on to state that vindictive prosecutions are done in Santa Barbara "on a routine basis." There have been other civil cases against Sneddon of which the public is unaware because they settled out of court. Among them is the case of Efren Cruz. In December 2001, the LA Times ran a story titled, "Man Wrongly Convicted of Murder Sues Prosecutors." Cruz served four and a half years in Pelican Bay prison for a shooting he did not commit, and upon his release sued Sneddon and three senior prosecutors for $120 million, for malicious prosecution, negligence, conspiracy to keep him in prison and violating his civil rights. Allegedly, the prosecutors withheld evidence that would have exonerated Cruz. The evidence was the real killer's secretly taped confession. The lawsuit was settled out of court at taxpayer's expense, for an undisclosed but certainly substantial amount.Given the pattern of lawsuits for malicious prosecution against Sneddon, the irregularities in the investigation of the Jackson case and the use of the media as a tool of the prosecution, it would seem to best serve the interests of justice for Sneddon to step down and to be replaced by a less biased prosecutor. If Sneddon could knowingly keep an innocent man in prison and charge another with crimes he did not commit, one wonders what he is capable of doing in the Jackson case. Not only is there a man's life at stake, but our criminal justice system will suffer a blow to its integrity if this high-profile case is not conducted with consummate fairness and dignity. Dr. K. C. Arceneaux is a Pushcart nominee and winner of a Tara Fellowship from the Heekin Group. First North American Serial Rights, Copyright April 29, 2004.http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/contrib...ackson_case.htm

toreador

抱歉，由于回家7天没有电脑。。。所以请个长假，抱歉了各位。

CeSsy

抱歉，由于回家7天没有电脑。。。所以请个长假，抱歉了各位。

NO PROB，祝节日愉快！

115翻译中~~~~~~尸乃灯这老头太可恶~~~~~~~~

BILLIE真是勤劳的小蜜蜂~~啊~~MJDB今年若是发年终奖你准拔得头筹！

http://news.newspress.com/topsports/043004vigil.htmExpect the unexpected at a Michael Jackson rally 4/30/04By SCOTT STEEPLETON NEWS-PRESS ASSISTANT METRO EDITORWhile people around him protested what they see as the injustice facing Michael Jackson, Floyd Meyer sat quietly in a chair outside the singer's Neverland Valley Ranch on Thursday night talking about the injustice of jury duty."They pay you just $15 a day," said Mr. Meyer, 76, holding a banner for his Web site, www.bootleg-jury.info. "That's less than minimum wage."Meanwhile, traffic on the two-lane road leading to the gate backed up twice, not by caravans of the singer and his entourage, but by men on horseback and a man driving a horse-drawn wagon, and Herbie the Love Bug even made an appearance.It just goes to show, you never know what to expect at a Michael Jackson fan rally.As they did in January on the eve of the singer's first arraignment on child molestation charges, young and old held a candlelight vigil at the Neverland gate to show support for Mr. Jackson, who today will answer new charges handed down by a criminal grand jury.Thursday's crowd of several dozen was much smaller than the 90 who showed up in January, and they were outnumbered by media. But the night had a much different vibe than last time, when it was all about the pop star. Several people danced down the middle of the street; two men sermonized about Martin Luther King Jr. becoming the first black president had he not been gunned down; and Red Chamberlain gingerly guided his five-horse wagon through the crowd and back to his house, which is up the road from Neverland.Then there was Mr. Meyer of Goleta. He had no opinion on the Jackson matter and only wanted to take advantage of all the free publicity he'd get unfurling his banner for reporters hungry for a story.But the fans, who came from France, Japan and other places around the world, also had their day."I had to touch the gate to feel the spirit," said Judy Sodenkamp, 62, of Kent, Wash. "I've been a Michael Jackson fan for years. I like him a lot, and I do think he's innocent."Her friend, 52-year-old Sue Bunton of Pismo Beach, agreed. She said all the singer is doing is living the life he was dealt."I think he's a very immature man. He did not have a childhood, but now he's making up for it."Tears welled up in Christian Mollett's eyes as he tried to grasp why anyone would criticize love. And if what prosecutors say about the 45-year-old singer and an underage boy is true, that's all it was, said Mr. Mollett, 20, of San Francisco."Love is not a crime. Love is free, and nobody will ever be able to stop that."Lompoc residents Trent Rameson and Mark Zetz came to the vigil in matching T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Free Michael.""There are a lot more pressing issues in Santa Barbara County than prosecuting Michael Jackson," said Mr. Rameson, 25."He's supposed to be a good role model for kids, which I believe he is," said Mr. Zetz, 42. "Even if they find him guilty, I still don't know if I'd be able to believe it."Many at these rallies take a moment to stare through the gate and wonder about the magical land inside -- and some even try to talk their way in.That's what Dave Grimmitt, owner of a delightful Volkswagen resembling the car made famous by the 1969 Disney movie "The Love Bug" tried to do after being called to the ranch by a friend. But security was tight this night, and even Mr. Grimmitt, 46, a frequent visitor to Neverland, was turned away this time.He made the best of it by parking the car and singing its praises to any who asked."It's an international symbol of love and kindness," said the affable Mr. Grimmitt.Although he said he doesn't think the molestation allegations are true, Mr. Grimmitt said, "If anyone did that to my children, I'd take the law into my own hands."He added that word of the Nation of Islam getting the boot as Mr. Jackson's security force was great news. "I'm not prejudiced or anti-Muslim," he said. "I'm a true Muslim."

Jackson Due to Reap $3.5-Million Advance From SonyBy Jeff LeedsLA Times Staff WriterApril 30, 2004Facing arraignment today on child molestation charges, pop star Michael Jackson is about to hear some badly needed good news on the business front.Jackson is due to receive an estimated $3.5-million advance in coming weeks for his forthcoming boxed-set compilation under his long-standing contract with Sony Corp.'s record unit, according to sources familiar with his business affairs.On top of that, the singer is poised in as little as a year to begin collecting royalties that could total $5 million annually if his recordings keep selling, according to the sources.The royalties are in prospect because Jackson's record sales — strong abroad, despite a sharp drop-off in the U.S. — are nearing the point at which the tens of millions of dollars Sony has spent on Jackson over the years will be paid off.To be sure, Jackson's overall finances remain tenuous. About $270 million in loans from Bank of America Corp., backed by his two major song catalogs, will come due in several years. And, after frittering away millions on poor investments and a shifting cast of business associates, he continues to spend lavishly.But with the anticipated Sony advance, and a recent refinancing of his debts, the erstwhile king of pop will be turning a financial corner.The Sony payment will come in exchange for delivery of recordings and other materials for the boxed set, which Sony is aiming to release for the fall — probably before any verdict in the Santa Barbara molestation case.Jackson recently obtained an extension on one loan, a $70-million package backed by his Mijac publishing company, until early 2006, sources said.Representatives of Sony Music Entertainment declined to comment.Jackson's representatives declined to discuss his finances. But his longtime music attorney, John Branca, said it would be a mistake to count his client out."He was counted out once before, when the Jackson Five lost popularity and came back bigger than ever," Branca said. "Michael speaks to a worldwide audience like no other artist in history."Although Jackson's U.S. sales have slipped from their 1980s apex, the singer's catalog and recent greatest-hits CD have sold so strongly worldwide in recent years that he is edging toward paying off the millions of dollars in recording and promotional expenses owed to Sony before he can collect a paycheck.With Jackson's release of 2001's "Invincible" album, Sony reissued much of the singer's earlier material and found worldwide demand. Since then, Jackson's albums have sold about 14 million copies worldwide, with about 9 million sold outside the U.S., sources said.Already, Jackson has whittled down a balance that stood at about $40 million several years ago. If sales hold up enough to finish off the tab, he would begin pocketing royalties from each album sold in the future.Some sources familiar with Jackson's record contract suggest that he could finish repaying the advances by early next year, although others predict that it could take longer, perhaps three years or more.The biggest factor in Jackson's financial fate, however, is whether he can cut lucrative future deals."It's all going to come down to what happens in the next 12 months," said one music industry player close to Jackson. Even if Jackson is acquitted of the criminal charges against him, "you don't know how tarnished he's going to be."Associates insist that Jackson could still earn a fortune by touring internationally."Those people talking about doomsday, don't they realize the guy could go out and do 10 or 15 dates and he would make tens of millions of dollars?" said veteran music executive Charles Koppelman, who ranks among the singer's top counselors.Television specials may also provide cash. Jackson reportedly earned millions from TV appearances last year. But at least two networks recently turned down his pitch for a special on his charitable efforts toward the AIDS epidemic in Africa.With Jackson's 1991 Sony contract nearing its end, he will be free to seek a new label deal, though any new pact probably would be more modest than the old one. The boxed compilation and a planned "best of" collection are the final releases under the Sony agreement.Given the uncertainties, however, Jackson's best prospects rest on continued income from a spate of mega-deals Branca and others made during the star's ascent after the success of his 1982 blockbuster, "Thriller."Jackson paid $47.5 million in 1985 to acquire a firm that held the Beatles' publishing rights — one of the richest song catalogs in music — and began snatching up other copyrights.Ten years later, Jackson struck a deal to merge those rights with Sony's publishing unit, creating a new firm, Sony/ATV. That deal paid him more than $100 million in cash, and he received a stake in the combined company.Meanwhile, Jackson had bulked up his own publishing firm, Mijac, which holds rights to his personal hits, by buying songs that include the Sly and the Family Stone catalog and Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready."Sources estimate the Mijac firm returns profit to Jackson of $6 million or more a year. A sale of Mijac probably would fetch at least $75 million, industry sources say.Sony/ATV, for its part, generates profit for Jackson in the same range. His stake in the unit is worth perhaps $400 million or more, sources say.Advisors vow Jackson won't sell one of his publishing firms to pay debt. As it stands, income from the catalogs should cover interest and some of the principal on his loans, sources said.The expectation that Jackson may soon receive record royalties despite the enormous advances under his Sony contract stems from the unusually favorable partnership he struck with the company at the peak of his fame. Under the arrangement, Jackson receives half of what Sony earns on his music, in addition to an estimated 25% royalty rate, sources said.Most acts sign deals with a 12% royalty, and although some of the biggest stars earn far higher rates, none is known to receive a royalty and a profit split.Jackson also became one of a handful of superstars to get so-called reversion rights to their recordings, sources said. That means in roughly seven years Jackson will have the ability to distribute his own greatest-hits packages or license them to one of Sony's competitors."The truth is, the longer he holds on, the more valuable" his recording and publishing assets could be for him, said one person familiar with Jackson's finances. "Holding on is the trick."Times staff writer Geoff Boucher contributed to this report.

CeSsy

121楼我接!

CeSsy

过奖过奖~~~不过，能透露一下年终奖的具体金额吗?嘻嘻~~~

MJ的UNDERWEAR，没洗过的~~LMAO（SC劣性不改）

洁尘

DS is a cold manMICHAEL唱的时候真够嘴下留情的了。TS是我今生唯一想骂作人渣的对象。（若是这句话放错了地方请版主随时删除）多问一句：这篇文章是出自哪里？为什么这样的正面报道总是不够被关注，为什么人总爱听那些旁枝末节的流言蜚语？关于MICHAEL和萨达姆要共用一个陪审团的传闻昨天居然上了SOHU头条。上帝啊，看看人类都在忙什么吧。

下面引用由洁尘在 2004/04/30 05:57pm 发表的内容：DS is a cold manMICHAEL唱的时候真够嘴下留情的了。TS是我今生唯一想骂作人渣的对象。（若是这句话放错了地方请版主随时删除）多问一句：这篇文章是出自哪里？为什么这样的正面报道总是不够被关注，为什么人 ...

SOHU那新闻是瞎编的,国外主流媒体根本没报道TS这文章是Rawstory.com 网站上发表的,由K．C．Arceneaux博士撰写(K．C．Arceneaux博士曾获Pushcart奖提名，并曾荣获Heekin Group授予的Tara 奖金。First North American 连载版权所有，2004年4月29日)

My的翻译

官员们正在为Jackson的到来做准备本文作者Quintin Cushner    警长Danny Macagni透露,本周五传讯Michael Jackson时,负责圣玛利亚法庭周围保全的40多名该市敬务人员中，还有负责学校资源的官员和数名侦探.    他说,该部门官员希望在那天能将其他辖区的警察调过来以免浪费过多时间.同时他还说，着并不会使其他辖区没有足够警力维持正常治安次序.    本周五,Jackson可能会在大陪审团前受审.虽然目前还未对外公布有哪些指控,但很可能与去年对之提出的指控类似.    在1月16 日的庭审中，Jackson否认了有关他在2003年2月7日至3月20日间7次对某未满14岁的男童有任何不当行为以及为了猥亵该男童两次给他喝某种饮料(据说是酒)的所有指控.    1月16日当天，Macagni说他的部门加了大约100个小时的班,多花了近6000美圆,还说道,星期五那天也会花同样多的时间和金钱.对一个一年有1500万美圆预算的部门来说着笔开销并不大,他解释到,但对于一个原计划为期7周的审判而言,这比花消累计起来数目还是相当可观的.    Macagni说，为此，他正在计划向圣芭疤拉县和圣路易斯的Obispo县的执法部门互助支援.根据互助协定，相邻的部门在彼此发生任何意外事件时都有义务提供帮助。    该县治安长官Bill Byrne说，圣芭疤拉县的警察部门除了负责法庭周围安全外还会在周五当天派50名人员前往现场.Byrne说，由于周五是法定假日，许多前来的人员都是本应那天放假的法庭保全人员。如果Jackson案件在圣玛利亚一拖再拖,警察也可能回寻求互助支援.    在1月16日听证会结束时,Jackson跳上他停在Miller街的旅行车，这一举动在歌迷中引起了骚乱.当他乘车离开时,他的歌迷们全部涌上Miller街跟着车追.    Macagni说，这次虽然在街道上仍可以停放车辆，但在法庭周围边不会再有通向Miller街的出口。另外，如果任何人想穿过警察在现场设置的路障或栏杆，都将以违反警方命令为由被捕.Byrne说，周五当天，歌迷们将被限制在沿Miller街设的一个围栏内，1月时有超过1000人为了看Jackson出现在现场,而这次可能也会有同样多的人出现.    1月16日当天，Jackson 在Miller 街的围栏前就下了车，而这次他将在位于G建筑前的法庭公共停车场下车，因为这栋建筑就是次次传讯进行的地方。    Macagni说Jackson这次不会有伊斯兰民族保镖的陪同,同时还补充到，他的部门在周二接到通知,私人保镖公司已经负责起这位天王的保镖工作.    当问及这位天王在本周五可能出现的行为时,Macagni的态度则谨慎而乐观。 "我们希望他能以专业的方式到达并离开,''Macagni说，他还提到Jackson的代表已向他保证不会有任何"惊喜''.说到此,Macagni则说:"他们可能也无法控制自己老板的行为.''    通过电话739-2217或邮件qcushner@pilitzer.net便可以与专职撰稿人QuintinCushner联系

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/2...n30jackson.htmlFrenzy of fans grows on eve of Jackson court date By Norma MeyerCOPLEY NEWS SERVICEApril 30, 2004 LOS OLIVOS – Dozens of Michael Jackson fans flocked to the gates of Neverland Ranch yesterday on the eve of his arraignment, some wearing "Free Michael" T-shirts, bopping to his music and stringing banners declaring support from countries as far away as Spain. The candlelight vigil was a virtual repeat of the one before Jackson's first arraignment on child molestation charges in January. The new arraignment is necessary because a Santa Barbara County grand jury returned an indictment against Jackson last week, superseding charges previously brought by District Attorney Tom Sneddon. Earlier, 25 miles north in Santa Maria, police erected metal barricades and a chain-link fence outside a county courthouse to control about 2,000 fans and onlookers expected to show for today's hearing. About 50 sheriff's deputies will join 42 Santa Maria police officers at the courthouse. Jackson will be accompanied by his new lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr. The determination and anger of some fans over Jackson's legal troubles seem to grow with every court hearing. "We want to shout out loud, 'Because you're different doesn't mean you're a criminal,'" said Maya Ghedhal, 28, a preschool teacher who spent $1,000 to fly out from France to support Jackson at the vigil and his scheduled court appearance. Like others here, she voiced the sentiment that Jackson's now-14-year-old accuser is out for money. As darkness fell, TV satellite trucks lined the country road leading to Jackson's sprawling estate. More than 100 members of the media are expected at the courthouse today. The singer reportedly returned to Neverland from a Florida vacation in midweek, but it was unclear whether he was inside his mansion. Free buses for Jackson supporters, dubbed the "Keep the Faith Caravan," were set to leave the Los Angeles area in the pre-dawn hours today for the courthouse, according to the singer's Web site.

CeSsy

Jackson will face new charges at today's hearing (SMT)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- santamariatimes.com/artic...news02.txtJackson will face new charges at today's hearing By Quintin Cushner/Staff WriterAmid a backdrop of fan hoopla, police security and media scrutiny, entertainer Michael Jackson is expected to plead not guilty to child-molestation charges today in Superior Court in Santa Maria. Jackson is expected to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. on a grand jury indictment that was issued April 21. Grand juries are panels made up of citizens summoned to investigate felony allegations. For an indictment to be issued, at least 12 members of the 19-person grand jury must find sufficient evidence to support charges against a defendant. The original intention of today's hearing in the Jackson case was to schedule a preliminary hearing in the case to determine if there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial. However, according to Proposition 115 - The California Crime Victim's Speedy Trial Initiative passed in 1990 - defendants are not entitled to a preliminary hearing in a criminal case if a grand jury issues an indictment, said Terry Franck, general council for the California First Amendment Coalition. The indictment in the Jackson case is currently sealed, but the charges are likely to be similar to a complaint prosecutors filed against the singer last year. At Jackson's Jan. 16 arraignment on those charges, the singer pleaded not guilty to engaging in lewd acts with an unnamed boy under the age of 14 on seven occasions between Feb. 7 and March 20, 2003, and two counts of "administering an intoxicating agent" - reportedly wine - to help him with the alleged molestations. During today's arraignment, Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville likely will read the new charges against Jackson - unless the defense requests that the recitation be waived, according to Peter Arenella, a former criminal defense attorney who teaches at the UCLA Law School. If the charges aren't revealed in open court, it's up to Melville to decide how much of the indictment will be released to the public, according to Gary Blair, executive officer of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. Since indictments include the list of witnesses called before a grand jury, there's likely to be some redaction or editing, according to Blair. It's also possible that either side could request that the indictment remain sealed until a later date, he said. Once the charges are presented to Jackson, he will be asked by the judge if he understands the charges against him, and may then enter a plea, Arenella said, but he could also stand mute and have a not-guilty plea entered for him, or his attorneys could ask for more time to consider the charges. Jackson's lawyers have said that the singer plans to plead not guilty to all charges against him. Leading Jackson's defense is Thomas Mesereau Jr., who is assisted by attorney Steve Cochran and Santa Barbara-based lawyer Robert Sanger. On Sunday, Jackson reportedly fired former lawyers Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman, replacing them with Mesereau. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon is prosecuting the Jackson case, with help from Senior Deputy District Attorneys Ron Zonen and Gerald Franklin. Today, Melville also is expected to set the next hearing in the Jackson case, which likely will surround issues of evidence, Arenella said. Every court date thus far in the case has been scheduled on a furlough day, during which no other court activity was taking place. The next furlough day is scheduled for May 28. After today's hearing, there may be a series of motions by the defense to dismiss the indictment based on a number of grounds, according to local defense attorney Adrian Andrade, who has challenged grand-jury indictments in the past. Typically, motions to quash - called 995 motions - focus on prosecutorial misconduct or testimony within the grand jury transcript that may run contrary to the charges, Andrade said. There likely also will be pre-trial hearings held in the case over access to and the admissibility of evidence, Andrade said. Regardless of how Melville rules in those evidence hearings, there could also be appeals filed seeking to overturn his rulings, Andrade said. Another pre-trial issue that may be raised is the current controversy over jury composition in Santa Barbara County. If that case does not resolve itself, Jackson's defense might argue that the case cannot go to trial until the 2nd District Court of Appeal decides if the method by which jurors are selected in Santa Barbara County is constitutional. The defense may also seek a change of venue in the case. It's unlikely that the Jackson case would be moved from Santa Maria though, Arenella said. Typically, he said, changes of venue are only granted by a judge if there's empirical justification that the jury pool has been tainted enough by pretrial publicity to prevent a fair trial, he said. Since the Jackson case has attracted widespread media attention, it would be difficult to find an untainted jury anywhere, he said. Once those issues are decided, there will be a hearing in which both sides determine when they might be ready to go to trial, and whether there's a chance to settle the case with a plea agreement, Andrade said. If both sides still wish to go to trial, a hearing will be held to finalize the first day of jury selection in the case, he said. Melville has requested that jury selection begin in the case before the end of the year, though that seems unlikely, Andrade said, if only because both defense attorneys and prosecutors are hesitant to begin a trial during the holiday season. A 2005 trial start date seems more likely, he said. At today's hearing, media attorney Theodore Boutrous, Jr. will argue to unseal a search warrant for some phone records in the case and to release an application prosecutors made to hold an unnamed person in contempt, he said. A challenge by the media of a gag order in the case, which prevents all participants in the proceedings from making public comment, is currently pending before the California Supreme Court, Boutrous said. And a decorum order preventing the media from speaking to grand jurors about the case is pending in the 2nd District Court of Appeal in Ventura, he said. About 1,200 people are expected to turn up at the courthouse for today's hearing, along with about 150 members of the media, according to Darrel Parker, assistant executive officer of the Superior Court. Around the complex, temporary fencing and barricades were erected this week to keep Jackson's fans away from the singer and off nearby Miller Street, according to Santa Maria Police Chief Danny Macagni. Police will close Miller Street near the courthouse during Jackson's arrival and departure today. * Staff writer Quintin Cushner can be reached at 739-2217 or by e-mail at qcushner@pulitzer.net. April 30, 2004

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Apr 30, 11:52 AM EDTJackson Pleads Innocent on MolestationBy LINDA DEUTSCHAP Special CorrespondentSANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) -- Michael Jackson pleaded not guilty Friday to an indictment charging him with child molestation and a conspiracy count alleging child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.The indictment also included four counts of lewd acts involving a minor child, one count involving an attempted lewd act upon a child and four counts of administering an intoxicating agent.The alleged child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion are not individual charges. Rather they are alleged as the circumstances leading to the conspiracy count.Jackson arrived in court 40 minutes early Friday for arraignment on a grand jury indictment that could move the 5-month-old child molestation case closer to trial......