NOVEMBER 19, 2003 PRESS CONFERENCE

***************************** NOVEMBER 19, 2003 PRESS CONFERENCE RE: CHILD MOLESTATION CASE AGAINST MICHAEL JACKSON PRESS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS: Santa Barbara County District Attorney Thomas Sneddon Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson PRESS CONFERENCE ATTENDEES: Members of the media from all around the world OPENING REMARKS: DA Thomas Sneddon: Good morning. Thank you for coming to Santa Barbara. I hope you all stay long and spend lots of money, because we need your sales tax to support our offices. [Press conference attendees laugh] This morning, let me just say…give you a little game plan here in terms of what you can expect. I’m going to make a couple of opening remarks to set down the process rules. Then, I’m going to introduce Sheriff Jim Anderson standing next to me. And Sheriff Anderson will make a statement. Then, I have a few things to say from the legal perspective on the case that I think might help satisfy some of your answers. And then at that point, the Sheriff and I are going to take questions. We will take a reasonable amount of questions until it becomes either redundant, or we’re wore out. [Press conference attendees laugh] And at that point, we’ll give you a warning…like I guess they do on the real things…you’ve got two more to say…or something like that. So, first of all, in terms of the process. As I indicated, the format will be the Sheriff is going to talk, I’m going to talk, then we’ll do the questions and answers. So, I really would appreciate it…and I don’t think this will be a problem, because we’re going to stick around…to save your questions until after we’ve completed our…at least what we consider candid remarks, or whatever you call it in your industry. Secondly, although I realize just like I hope most of you all realize, we have different roles and responsibilities in connection with what we do in this, and we all know this is a very serious situation that we’re not going to answer questions involving the specifics of this case, and the timelines in the case, or the names of the people involved in this case. I think probably most of you as veteran reporters understand the reason that we’re not doing this. We’re not trying to be difficult, but this is an ongoing investigation. I think that’s something that the Sheriff and I feel very strongly about. So, to the extent that you try to do your jobs and pry that kind of information out of us…I think you’re going to find us to be a tough sell. Thirdly, in the future…many of you have generously called both the Sheriff and I to appear on all kinds of programs from…I won’t even announce it, so I don’t want to give them any publicity…but all of the high-prime…primetime talk show things. And I want you to know, so that you all know…so you don’t waste your time and your producers time, or anybody else’s time…the Sheriff and I are not going on any T.V. programs. We are not going to be making any public statements about this case, except in a press conference format. All future information about the case will come out of Chris Poppus which is the…Chris is the PIO from the Sheriff’s department…or on the websites of either department. We both have websites. We’re not trying to be difficult, but I think you have to understand the Sheriff and I have a responsibility to the citizens of this county. We have busy schedules in terms of what we’re doing and the cases that we’re handling and other investigations. And we just can’t have our switchboards taken down by trying to answer press inquiries. I think we’re trying to be reasonable and set up a process that can help you do your job while we can continue to do our job to protect the citizens of Santa Barbara County. I hope you understand that. So, without further ado…as they say…I want to introduce you to a good friend of mine and the current Sheriff of Santa Barbara County, Jim Anderson. Sheriff? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Thank you, Tom. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Yesterday morning at around 8:30 a.m., investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s department and Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office served a search warrant at Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos. Simultaneous to the service of the warrant at Neverland Ranch, two search warrants were also served in Southern California. Approximately 70 investigators from the Sheriff’s department and the District Attorney’s office were involved in the service of this warrant at Neverland Ranch. The operation was concluded around 11:00 p.m. last night. The service of the warrants was part of an ongoing investigation alleging criminal misconduct on the part of Michael Jackson. The basis for this investigation regarding Mr. Jackson involves allegations of child molestation 288(a) of the California Penal Code. Additionally, an arrest warrant for Mr. Jackson has been issued on multiple counts of child molestation. The bail amount on the warrant has been set at $3million dollars. At this point in time, Mr. Jackson’s been given an opportunity to surrender himself to the custody of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s department within a specified period of time. We are currently working with Mr. Jackson’s legal representation on this matter. Mr. Jackson has also been directed to surrender his passport when he’s taken into custody. While we appreciate the level of interest generated by this case, the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department is committed to maintaining the integrity of this investigation with respects to both legal and ethical considerations. We will not be commenting on issues specific to the investigation beyond what has already been released. DA Thomas Sneddon: Thank you, Jim. Let me just add a few things to what the Sheriff just said from a perspective of the District Attorney’s office. And we do have some releases in writing that you can get. You know they’ve been passed out already, or you’ll get them afterwards. Commonly in these kinds of cases…let me clarify something, because some of you are lawyers, and I don’t want you to get it wrong. [Press conference attendees laugh]. There’s a 288 and there’s a 288A. There’s a 288(a) which is the child molesting section. 288A is another offense. Just so you all understand we are talking about a violation of 288(a), child molesting. Not oral copulation of an adult to children, okay? So, I want to clarify that so that you understand that. Secondly, ordinarily, sometimes either my staff or myself are asked in cases like this what the penalties are. In California we have a determinate sentence. A determinate sentence means the legislature set a timeframe upon conviction (if), worst case scenario, the judge decides to send a person to state prison. In this particular case, the triad is three years, six years and eight years. So minimum would be three, the maximum would be eight for a single count. We are filing multiple counts. So, potentially, if we get to the point where there is a conviction or a sentencing, the judge would have the discretion at that point to give multiple consecutive sentences. And the limits on the judge, at that point, are 1/3 of the middle term which will be an additional two years…you do the math…for each additional one consecutive. It is not mandatory. It is discretionary. I’m not suggesting to you that any of this could happen, but I’m asked routinely what is the outside worst case scenario. I’m just trying to give you that. I don’t want anybody to imply from anything that I’ve said, or remarks that I’ve said, that any one of those things is going to happen. But, that’s just what the sentencing timeframes are. One thing I want to emphasis…I’m saying this because I couldn’t resist the temptation to watch a little bit of some of this coverage last night on T.V….and I heard a lot of apologist for Mr. Jackson say some things that I think we can…the Sheriff and I can talk about…that I think are important for you, as the media, and for the public who is going to hear these things…to be told. I heard a lot of people saying it was déjà vu. I heard a lot of people saying it was another rip-off by some family to get money. I want to make several things clear about why this is different from the last investigation. Number one, it is different because the law in California has changed, and it was changed specifically because of the 1993-94 Michael Jackson investigation. The law in California at that time provided that a child victim could not be forced to testify in a child molest proceeding without their permission and consent and cooperation. As a result of the Michael Jackson case, the legislature changed that law, and that is no longer the law in California. Secondly, as you all know, or most of you know, either from being involved, or knowing about that investigation, there were never any charges brought in that investigation. No warrant issued. There is a warrant outstanding and I can assure you that within a very short period of time, there will be charges filed against Mr. Jackson. Multiple counts. That’s different. Third, at the time of the investigation… [DA Thomas Sneddon accidentally knocks a media organization’s microphone off of the podium with his hand while speaking]…Now I just hit somebody off, but uh…[Press conference attendees laugh]…it’s T.V. Aztec whoever you are. [Press conference attendees laugh] Sorry. I apologize. [Press conference attendees laugh] I just got carried away here. Female Press Conference Attendee: Just lay it flat, Tom. DA Thomas Sneddon [while still trying to put the microphone back in place]: It won’t. There’s no room up here. You folks have, uh…[Sheriff Jim Anderson tries to assist DA Thomas Sneddon in placing the microphone back onto the podium.] I’ll just hang on to it. That way, I don’t have to worry about knocking any more off. [Right after saying this, DA Thomas Sneddon lays the microphone flat on the podium and resumes speaking.] Male Press Conference Attendee: All right. DA Thomas Sneddon: All right. Third. Here we go. Third, is that at the time of the investigation in 1993 and 94…as those of you who have followed that know…there was an contemporaneous civil case that was filed by Attorney Larry Feldman in Los Angeles. And that case was filed almost immediately at the same time that our office and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office was notified of the allegations, and we commenced our investigations. That civil case culminated prior to the completion of our investigation. I say completion because at the time that that civil settlement went down, that victim indicated to us that they would no longer…were no longer interested in cooperating criminally. There is no civil case filed and there is no anticipation that there will be a civil case filed in this particular case. And the last reason this is different. In this particular case, we have a cooperative victim in this particular proceeding. So, I think there’s something…some things that are very different about what’s going on today and what occurred before. Another thing that I think that the Sheriff and I are…need…feel concerned that we want to clarify about allegations that we’ve heard. There’s been…Jackson himself, I believe has said that this was all done to try to ruin his new CD that was coming out, or whatever it is he’s doing. Like the Sheriff and I really are into that kind of music, but…[Press conference attendees laugh]…but the fact of the…and all of my kids are grown now pretty much so…but the fact of the matter is…what you need to know is that in actuality we had no knowledge of that prior to the time that we determined the date we’d execution this. And (in fact), we were going to execute these warrants several weeks ago, but had to put it off because of all the visitors we had come up here. The 50,000 people that came in for Halloween. So, it really has nothing to do with his album or whatever else he’s doing in his life. We don’t track him. So, I think it’s important for people to know that we’ve been ready to do this for some period of time, and it was just an operational thing within the Sheriff’s department, because of the tremendous man power…the person power that they had to put out for the Halloween thing. And the last question before we’ll open it up is…I know you’re probably going to ask some questions about Child Protective Services both in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Child Protective Services, at this point in time, is not involved in these investigations. There were some previous contacts by folks in the Los Angeles Child Protective Services involving some other things that came out when the…uh…don’t assume from that I’m talking about the same family. I’m just telling you there was Child Protective Services involved in another allegations involving Mr. Jackson in Los Angeles, and there has been no involvement on either one of those departments, in any one of those things, involving any of that information. This has solely been an operation run by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department. And I have been advising them, and the members of my staff have been advising them, on the legal issues involving the investigation. Whether they will get involved, obviously there’s going to be…at least the local Santa Barbara people, where it’s pertinent…will be notified of it and what they do, they do. Uh, just so some of you who are really sharp understand, in Santa Barbara, the DA’s office handles the 300 petitions. So, we will be conflicting out of that and having the court request that they appoint other counsel, so there’s no allegations that we’re involved in that process, and get information from that process, and it’s arm-length, and build a firewall involving that. It’s just a different thing. We will not be involved in that. There’ll be separate counsel appointed to represent the department of Child Protective Services in Santa Barbara. Jim, did you have anything that you wanted to add before we open it up? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Just that we have copies of the news release this morning to provide to you both from the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office. And now we’ll go ahead and open it up for questions. QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION: [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Could he be a flight risk? Sheriff Jim Anderson: There’s always that potential, but we are actively pursuing the arrest warrant at this time. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Female Reporter: Why are you waiting to file charges? Are you waiting to see if in fact he cooperates and surrenders as these would be you have to go arrest him? Is that why you’re waiting to file the charges? DA Thomas Sneddon: No, it didn’t have anything to do with it. Filing the charges had nothing to do with that. I know it may seem simple to people to get together a search warrant for several different places and stuff like that, but it’s just a matter of a decision that we made to arraigning warrant, an affidavit, get a judicial authorization, and it gives us time to go back and do the formal charging at another time. That’s all it was. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: What’s the timeframe for surrender? DA Thomas Sneddon: We’re not going to discuss the timeframe for him to surrender. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] DA Thomas Sneddon: All right! All right! All right! Sheriff Jim Anderson: We gotta go one at a time! One at a time. Female Reporter: Couldn’t his children be taken away from him, Mr. Sneddon? DA Thomas Sneddon: I beg your pardon? Female Reporter: Could Michael Jackson’s children be taken away from him? DA Thomas Sneddon: That’s a decision that would be made by a juvenile court. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Where is he right now? Male Reporter: Sir, do you know where he is right now? DA Thomas Sneddon: No. Sheriff Jim Anderson: No, we do not. Male Reporter: Sir, can you tell us about the other two search warrants please? DA Thomas Sneddon: I beg your pardon? Male Reporter: You mentioned two other search warrants that were in California. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yes, there were two others. Male Reporter: Give us the details of those, please. Sheriff Jim Anderson: I’m not going to get into the detail of those, but we did serve two in Southern California, and we did acquire additional property. Male Reporter: We want the what, when, where, why. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yesterday at the same time as the search warrant was served here in Santa Barbara County. Male Reporter: In general terms, Sir, can you just talk about it in general what you all went looking for? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Items of evidence that would corroborate the victim’s statements. Male Reporter: As much as you can talk about…can you say what you all believe happened and why the evidence was compelling enough to issue an arrest warrant? Sheriff Jim Anderson: We’re not going to get into the specifics of the case. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] DA Thomas Sneddon: We want to clarify something. There is an affidavit in this particular case, and that affidavit has been sealed for 45 days, and it will not be released for 45 days in order for us to complete the investigation. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] DA Thomas Sneddon: This gentleman right here has a question. Male Reporter: When did this start? When did this 12-year-old’s parents come forward and notify you? DA Thomas Sneddon: You assumed something that we haven’t said, okay? [Press conference attendees laugh] So, we are not going to answer that question. Male Reporter: Sir, reports are out that it was Attorney Larry Feldman who caused the boy to come to the Sheriff’s office and talk to the DA’s office. Can you confirm that your office has had discussions with Attorney Larry Feldman? DA Thomas Sneddon: No. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: You’ve asked him to surrender his passport. How realistically do you think it is that he might flee overseas? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Well, there’s always that possibility. But I believe that he’s willing to cooperate with us and turn over his passport at this point. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Sheriff, is Mark Geragos representing Mr. Jackson? Is Mr. Geragos representing Mr. Jackson? Sheriff Jim Anderson: I believe that is correct. DA Thomas Sneddon: That’s what was represented to me in my conversation with him. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Over what period of time did this occur and what year? Did it occur over a period of time? DA Thomas Sneddon: We’re not going to discuss that. We’re not going to discuss that. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Female Reporter: (Inaudible) children be taken into protective custody already? DA Thomas Sneddon: What children? Female Reporter: His own children. DA Thomas Sneddon: They’re not within the…at this point in time, they’re not in California. Male Reporter: Is there a possibility of any other victims just to (inaudible) Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yes, there is that possibility, and we would encourage the public to come forward if they have any information whatsoever that would lead us to believe there are other victims in the community…to contact us so that we can follow up on that information. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Are the multiple counts only involving the one child? DA Thomas Sneddon: I’m not going to answer that. This lady right here with her hand up in the white. Female Reporter: If he’s not cooperating, can you compel him to testify? Female Reporter: I just wanted to know, if you do not know where Michael Jackson is at this moment, but how soon like if he doesn’t turn himself in by a certain time, what will then happen, and how long is that time designated to have himself turn himself in? DA Thomas Sneddon: You’ll know about it when he gets there. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Will he get any special treatment because of this arrangement to turn himself in? DA Thomas Sneddon: John, you’re the worst person to be asking that question, because you know in this county that we have traditionally done that for other people as a courtesy… Male Reporter: Would you do it for the King of Pop? DA Thomas Sneddon: …and we’ve done it for other people and we’re not doing anything different. You know that. Male Reporter: Would you do it for any member of the public? DA Thomas Sneddon: We have! Male Reporter: I really meant to turn themselves in… DA Thomas Sneddon: Depending on the sit… Male Reporter:…so that they don’t be seen with handcuffs on them? DA Thomas Sneddon: …depending on the way (inaudible) Sheriff Jim Anderson: On as case-by-case basis, yes. Female Reporter: Are you confident that your victim’s willing to testify this time? DA Thomas Sneddon: Yes. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: You mentioned multiple counts. Male Reporter: How many counts are there? Male Reporter: How many counts? DA Thomas Sneddon: I’m not going to say. Male Reporter: And why won’t you say that there’s more than one child now, or not? Why? DA Thomas Sneddon: I’m not. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Female Reporter: Will there be a charging document released? DA Thomas Sneddon: Yes. When we file it. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold on. Hold on. This gentleman back here. Male Reporter: Is the District Attorney’s office right now in any sort of deal-making with Michael Jackson’s attorneys whoever they should be at this point? Is there any sort of deal that you’re talking about a surrender, a possible deal or anything like that? DA Thomas Sneddon: A deal to surrender himself? Or a deal? Male Reporter: Well, let’s talk about both. DA Thomas Sneddon: I wouldn’t comment on either one of those. [Press conference attendees laugh] We’ve been in contact with his lawyer. Male Reporter: (inaudible) DA Thomas Sneddon: I’m sorry? Male Reporter: Is he still in Las Vegas? DA Thomas Sneddon: I don’t know! I mean, we really have a life other than Michael Jackson, and we’ve been really trying to work on our investigation as you well know…‘cause I saw it on T.V. before I came down here…the last word I had on somebody standing outside of a hotel was that he was still there, but then there was some other people who said they saw him leave last night. So, you get these conflicting testimonies. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Sir, you have dealt with the Jackson case for so long, I’m… Male Reporter: You have been involved with this case… Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold on a second. Let him answer. Male Reporter: You have dealt with this case for a number of years. You were involved 10 years ago. Can you talk about your satisfaction in finally bringing Michael Jackson…in your mind…to justice? And can you talk about…do you feel he has a problem dealing children? DA Thomas Sneddon: All right, first of all, I haven’t been dealing with Michael Jackson for anything. When that case went to bed 10 years ago, he was out of my mind. You folks and people keep calling…every time he does a bizarre thing…to ask me my comment about it. But, I really do have a lot of things going on…as does the Sheriff and the former Sheriff…and people in my office. We really have a very busy office. I haven’t given it a passing thought. My feelings about this is that I’m sad that there’s another victim out there. I feel bad for the family. I feel bad for the victim. Beyond that, I think it’s a sad thing for all the people involved in this thing. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: But isn’t there a sense in your office that perhaps he bought his way out of those charges 10 years ago, and now he may have to do it? DA Thomas Sneddon: That he bought his way out? Male Reporter: Is there a sense in your office that he bought… DA Thomas Sneddon: I think there’s a sense in the public he did that! Why lay it off on me and my office? [Press conference attendees laugh] [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold on. Hold on. This lady back here. Female Reporter: Did you say, Mr. Sneddon, just a couple of minutes ago that Michael Jackson’s children are out of California? Female Reporter [answers other female reporter’s question]: They’re in Las Vegas. Female Reporter: Does the law call for them… DA Thomas Sneddon: She answered your question for you. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yeah, she answered it. Female Reporter: Does the law call for them to be taken into protective custody as a matter, of course, if this father is under arrest for molestation charges if he returns to California? DA Thomas Sneddon: Not necessarily. Female Reporter: (If) he returns to California. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Not at this point in time, no. Female Reporter: Wait a minute! You can have a father charged with sexual abuse of a minor and leave the children in the home with that father?! Sheriff Jim Anderson: Everyone is innocent until convicted. Female Reporter: Is the child involved a boy or a girl? DA Thomas Sneddon: We’re not going to talk about that. You can tell from the charges it has to be a child. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Wait! Hold on a second! Hold on a second! Hold on a second! [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Sheriff, I’m a little confused. If you had 70 guys out at his ranch, you didn’t know where Michael Jackson was yesterday, and if you consider this to be a possible flight risk, why would you not have known? Sheriff Jim Anderson: We had an idea where he might be. That wasn’t confirmed yesterday morning. Yesterday evening, there was additional information that came to our attention that he was coming back to the state of California. But beyond that, we have no additional information at this point in time. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Female Reporter: Will you compel him to testify if he becomes uncooperative? DA Thomas Sneddon: We didn’t answer that question. Male Reporter: Mr. Sneddon, did you find anything you were looking for? DA Thomas Sneddon: We’re not going to comment on that. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] DA Thomas Sneddon: I will say this…excuse me a second…on the gentleman’s question…I think the Sheriff and I probably feel pretty comfortable saying this much. One of the things that…you know, there’s been a question about why so many people went in there and why we were there so long. One of the things that you have to…some of you are familiar just in looking at the aerials…that’s a pretty huge complex…and we were authorized by the court to go in and video inside and out…all of the buildings on the premises. And you can imagine how long it took just to complete that process. Beyond that, we’re not going to talk about anything else that was done out there at the premises. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold! Hold on a second! Male Reporter: (Inaudible) DA Thomas Sneddon: I’m sorry? Male Reporter: What would a (inaudible) unlawful warrant to avoid prosecution warrant be issued if he does not return to California? DA Thomas Sneddon: Of course? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yes. Male Reporter: Mr. Sneddon, will you prosecute this case yourself? Female Reporter: What sparked the investigation? Male Reporter: Will you prosecute this yourself, Sir? DA Thomas Sneddon: Um, yes. But, not by myself. Male Reporter: Okay. DA Thomas Sneddon: There’ll be another lawyer from my office assigned to the case. Female Reporter: Would you be the lead chair on a case like this? I know your retirement’s coming up. Would this be the last big case for you? DA Thomas Sneddon: Not necessarily. And I wouldn’t be the lead attorney when I do things with people in my office. Which I’ve done before, we do it as co-counsel—as colleagues. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Okay. Over here. Over here. Female Reporter: Anderson, have you sent sheriff deputies to Las Vegas? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Uh, no, we have not. Female Reporter: Where (inaudible)… Sheriff Jim Anderson: We have been in communication with Las Vegas, but our personnel are not there at this time. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Does he have to surrender here in California, or can he surrender out of state? Can he surrender in Nevada? DA Thomas Sneddon: I think the Sheriff made that pretty clear where it was. Female Reporter: Is this going to be an expensive prosecution investigation for your county, and how are you going to handle that given the State’s problems? DA Thomas Sneddon: That’s our job! Male Reporter: If Michael Jackson’s watching us right now with his people…your opportunity to tell him what you like…should he contact authorities immediately? What’s your message to him? DA Thomas Sneddon: Get over here, and get check in. [Press conference attendees laugh] Sheriff Jim Anderson: We would encourage him to turn himself in and cooperate with law enforcement. Yes. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold, hold, hold on a second. There’s a question here. Male Reporter: Did the warrants served in Southern California…were they homes, or were they businesses? Can you… Sheriff Jim Anderson: We’re not going to comment. Female Reporter: Did you see the Bashir documentary? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Back here…back here. DA Thomas Sneddon: There’s a gentleman back there. Male Reporter: You guys say that you’re open to other possible victims coming forward. Do you have knowledge, at this point, of other possible victims that may be included in this suit? Sheriff Jim Anderson: No comment at this point. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: How long have you been working on this case? How far back does this case span? DA Thomas Sneddon: It’s been an ongoing investigation, and we’re not going to get involved in giving you a timeline. I think I made that pretty clear. Male Reporter: Could it be a few months, or longer or anything? DA Thomas Sneddon: I’m not going to talk about that. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Female Reporter: Did you watch any (inaudible) documentary? Male Reporter: Was the victim involved in the British documentary? DA Thomas Sneddon: We’re not…(inaudible)…next question. Male Reporter: Mr. Sneddon, can you saying for sure that the child involved in this case is the boy or girl? DA Thomas Sneddon: No. We’re not going to talk about (inaudible) Male Reporter: You won’t give us a specific number of the counts…understandable...but can you at least tell…are we talking 10, 20, or are you talking 4 or 5? There’s a big difference there. DA Thomas Sneddon: That’s only significant to you. To me, it’s multiple counts, and we’ll file the document which will be public within… Male Reporter: It’s a possible sentencing it’s obvious (inaudible). DA Thomas Sneddon: To the sentencing judge upon conviction, but we have a long way to go before we get there. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Female Reporter: Explain how the conversation went between Michael Jackson’s legal representation and your office. I know you’re gonna only say certain things, but just give us a sense of like…did they call you? Did you call them? What was that for? How did that whole thing happen? DA Thomas Sneddon: Well, as already been reported…and there’s probably many of you saw…I talked to Steve Cochran at the gate yesterday afternoon for a brief period of time. Very cordial conversation. I know Mr. Cochran, Steve Cochran, from before and from some other things. Uh, we get along very well. And then later, yesterday afternoon, when I got back to my office the other gentleman called me. Again, we had a very cordial conversation, and beyond that I’m not in liberty to disclose those conversations. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: This, this, this person here. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold on. Hold on. This person here. Go ahead. Female Reporter: How’s the victim doing? And are they getting any help? DA Thomas Sneddon: I’m not going to comment on that either. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Okay. Now your question? DA Thomas Sneddon: It’s a legitimate question we’re not going to comment on. Female Reporter: Could you just clarify what is the actual…Is there an actual time deadline before you will say Michael Jackson hasn’t cooperated and you’re going to go after him? DA Thomas Sneddon: Uh, no. There is not. Well, yes there is. I’m sorry. We’re not going to tell you what it is. [DA Sneddon begins to laugh. Press conference attendees laugh.] I thought you were going to ask me a different question. That’s what I was thinking. Sheriff Jim Anderson: The lady in the… [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Female Reporter: Los Angeles media is a little leery, because we waited for another celebrity to turn themselves in. So, Los Angeles media tends to be a little leery if there’s no deadline on when a person…particularly a celebrity…can turn themselves in. So, that’s why we were hoping to narrow it down. DA Thomas Sneddon: You’re working in Santa Barbara now. You gotta put away the past and get with the future. [Press conference attendees laugh] [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold, hold, hold on. Hold on just a second. This… Female Reporter: You’ve got media from around the world. Everybody’s going to be watching this case. You’re going after this (very) big client, and also big attorneys on their end. How confident are you that you’re actually going to get a prosecutor that will prosecute Michael Jackson, the King of Pop? DA Thomas Sneddon: No comment. They had big attorneys the last time. Male Reporter: Mr. Sneddon, would you have allowed another individual accused of this kind of a crime to turn themselves in, or do you go after them? DA Thomas Sneddon: I would say that my answer’s the same as I gave before. We’ve done it before and we’d do it again in the appropriate situation. Male Reporter: What is the appropriate situation? Male Reporter: Sheriff, Sheriff, would it be an appropriate situation to give (inaudible) to take your time and surrender? What is the criteria that you use? Sheriff Jim Anderson: I’m not going to get into that. Female Reporter: Sheriff, how long has this investigation be going on for? How long has this investigation been going on for? DA Thomas Sneddon: We answered that already. Female Reporter: What sparked it? Male Reporter: Can Michael Jackson get a fair trial here in Santa Barbara? DA Thomas Sneddon: Why not? Male Reporter: What sparked the investigation? Female Reporter: What exactly sparked it? Did you get a phone call? Did someone tip you off? I mean, you’ve been investigating this for two or three months. What led to this enormous massive investigation and search yesterday? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Well, like in any other criminal investigation, we have to have someone who’s a victim come forward and present the information to law enforcement. That’s what begins the process for the investigation to start. Female Reporter: And when did that happen? Two or three months ago? Male Reporter: (inaudible) Sheriff Jim Anderson: We’re not going to get into the timeline. Male Reporter: Did the victim come to you by himself, or with his family? How did that come about? DA Thomas Sneddon: You know, people have asked that now about six different ways, and I think it’s pretty clear we’re not going to disclose any of that information. Male Reporter: Is the Los Angeles police department involved in this case as well in serving the search warrants out in Century City? DA Thomas Sneddon: No. Sheriff Jim Anderson: No. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: Was there a hearing to seal the search warrants? DA Thomas Sneddon: What’s that? Male Reporter: Was there a hearing to seal the search warrants? DA Thomas Sneddon: No. Well, yeah. I guess there was. There was a judge and there were people there, because as is always the case when you ask for sealing, it’s the… Male Reporter: Sheriff! DA Thomas Sneddon: …the information Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold, hold, hold on. DA Thomas Sneddon: …the information has to be put in the search warrant to justify it, and then the judge makes it…it’s a judicial decision…it’s not ours. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yes, yes, right, right here. Question. Female Reporter: It’s well known that Michael Jackson is always surrounded by servants and bodyguards…and I’m not questioning your investigation…I’m trying to understand how the molestation of a child could happen with all those kinds of people around him all the time? Might you be filing charges against other people that work for Michael Jackson? Sheriff Jim Anderson: I can’t comment on it at this point in time. But we are continuing a criminal investigation. Male Reporter: Sheriff! Female Reporter: Have you questioned people close to Michael Jackson about their association with this victim that came forward? Sheriff Jim Anderson: I’m not going to comment on the specifics of the investigation. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: I’m sorry. Right here. Male Reporter: Excuse me. Excuse me. I haven’t asked a question yet. Sheriff, are you going to be serving us members of the media (lunch) after this press conference? [Press conference attendees laugh] DA Thomas Sneddon: Well, you evidently don’t know about our budget crisis. Sheriff Jim Anderson: No. We have a budget problem. Male Reporter: Sneddon, is there a child therapist involved? DA Thomas Sneddon: No comment. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: In the back here. In the back. Male Reporter: To the DA. What’s the next step after he turns himself in? When is the arraignment? When is the hearing? What’s the time limit? DA Thomas Sneddon: Uh, I’m going to talk to you generically, because these things…there is some give and take in these things, so I don’t want anybody to take this as an absolute thing that’s set in concrete. Ordinarily…let’s just put this case aside and talk generically about situations…when we allow people to surrender themselves before with their lawyers and get booked and fingerprinted…is that they’re given…and if they make the bail that’s set by the judge…then they are cited to appear in court on a certain date in the future, and that citation date can be anywhere from probably 30 days to 45 days. At that point, then the District Attorney’s office must have on file a formal criminal charging document at the time that the individual is brought or comes to court pursuant to that citation release. That is the initial date for appearance for arraignment…and as many of you who cover other notorious cases that in the past and they’re going on in the future now…that in many instances, the defendant and his attorney will appear for the first time and continue the arraignment and not enter a plea immediately, but do so at a subsequent date. That’s generic. That’s what happens generically. I cannot tell you what’s going to happen at this point, ‘cause Mr. Jackson’s not in custody. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Question back here. Male Reporter: Does that mean that you’ve got 45 days to charge him from the date that…in this case…from the date that he surrenders? You don’t have to file charges within 45 days of it? DA Thomas Sneddon: Generically, in the scenario I just gave you, it gives us up to about 45 days if we (seek) to do that. It doesn’t mean we have to. Male Reporter: And then your sense in this case…general sense with how long it will probably take you? DA Thomas Sneddon: I think I made it clear in the press release that we intend to do something very soon. Sheriff Jim Anderson: There’s a question in the back here. Question in the back. Male Reporter: Will there be a condition on Mr. Jackson’s bail that he not have contact with minors after he’s taken into custody if he makes bail assuming? DA Thomas Sneddon: That will be one of the things that will probably be brought up at the bail hearing. If there’s a bail hearing. Male Reporter: Can you suggest that? DA Thomas Sneddon: It’s under consideration. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Male Reporter: How do you respond to those that say you have a personal vendetta against Mr. Jackson? DA Thomas Sneddon: Well, I can tell you it’s BS. But, that isn’t going to change people’s observations. I think the other way is that, if you want to check with people that know me, they know better than that. I got a life, you know. I got things I do…I enjoy doing. I’m not going to… Sheriff Jim Anderson: This, this, this lady back here. Female Reporter: How many days you give to Mr. Jackson to give himself up? DA Thomas Sneddon: No, we’re not going to comment on that. Sheriff Jim Anderson: No, we won’t comment on that. Male Reporter: May I ask you two how strong a case you feel you have, if you want to characterize it? And how serious are these charges in your mind against Mr. Jackson? DA Thomas Sneddon: The first one I’m not going to answer, because we never answer that. The second one is…I don’t even remember the second part of it. Male Reporter: How serious do you think… Sheriff Jim Anderson: We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we were serious about this. DA Thomas Sneddon: Gee, these are serious allegations! Sheriff Jim Anderson: In the back. Male Reporter: As a man who has spent his life coaching in sports around kids that you have…two part question: a) on a personal level, how do child molestation charges, for people who do that, make you feel if you spend your life around kids in sports and coaching them? and, b ) what would you tell those kids that you coach now when they ask you about this situation? DA Thomas Sneddon: Well, how do I feel? It isn’t just people that I’ve been around and coached and families I’ve known and things like that. I think it’s a devastating thing to a child this age. And I’m not talking about this case. I’m talking about any case. You know, I’ve…there’s an assumption that this is the only child molest case we have. We handle cases like this all the time. It’s a tragedy for the families involved and the victims involved, generically. So, there’s nothing different about that. And what I tell them is the same thing I would tell them as one of my own kids. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Okay. This gentleman over here. Male Reporter: Is the investigative work basically completed, or is it a possibility we may see other search warrants executed in the near future? Sheriff Jim Anderson: It’s not completely at this point. It’s an ongoing investigation. And we’re following up on information as we speak. Male Reporter: What about the search warrants? Is that a possibility? Sheriff Jim Anderson: There’s always that possibility. Male Reporter: Sir, how long can Mr. Jackson go to jail for in total? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Well, it depends on whether or not he’s convicted, number one. And number two, what he’s convicted of and how many counts. And, you know, all of those things have to be factored in. You go from anywhere from three to eight years I think. Male Reporter: Have you ever heard of a child molest case like this with a $3million dollar bail? Is that higher than normal? Or, how’s it compared? DA Thomas Sneddon: Uh, I would have to say that it’s uh, way up there, uh…and uh…but not unprecedented, and uh… Male Reporter: How did you come up with that figure? DA Thomas Sneddon: …I’m getting there. Patience. Uh, and I think that you have to understand that the function of setting bail is not simply a district attorney’s request. It’s a function of the judge and how the judge feels comfortable with the individual involved and the charges involved ‘cause the judge is familiar with the allegations having read the affidavit in support of the arrest and search warrants. And as you know…some of you…we had a case down in Ventura were somebody posted a million dollar bail and took off. And they found him down in Mexico after a long search. So, I think with that…and other situations involved…I think that was factored into the judges decision to set it at $3million. Female Reporter: What have you done… Sheriff Jim Anderson: Okay, we’re…we’re going to go here to this next question. Female Reporter: This is a two-part question. What exactly did you find at the estate and can you just go back… [Press conference attendees laugh] DA Thomas Sneddon: I think we’re getting to time to leave. Female Reporter: …I mean, do you think that would help your case if you think it was strong evidence? But also this law that you talk about that changed. If you could just maybe talk a little bit more about that. Sheriff Jim Anderson: We’re not going to comment on the specifics of the case or what we found at the ranch. And the law has changed so that the victim will be required to testify even if there were a civil settlement of some case. Uh, there is no civil case at this point in time. Yes. Male Reporter: (inaudible) arrangements for Jackson’s incarceration? Sheriff Jim Anderson: I’m sorry? Male Reporter: Have you made arrangements for Jackson’s incarceration? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Not at this point. No. Male Reporter: Sheriff can you… Female Reporter: But… DA Thomas Sneddon: Excuse me, there’s a lady back here… Sheriff Jim Anderson: Right here. DA Thomas Sneddon: …way in the back. Yeah. Female Reporter: Last time you used the grand jury for investigative purposes. Will you be convening the grand jury for anything this time as far as the indictment? DA Thomas Sneddon: Gosh, it took a long time for somebody to get around to that one. [Press conference attendees laugh] Female Reporter: (inaudible) DA Thomas Sneddon: Well, we haven’t ruled anything out. [Press conference attendees laugh] Female Reporter: One more question…this has been kind of asked…but do you anticipate charging anybody connected to the child…perhaps the guardian or parents…who may have known something was going on? DA Thomas Sneddon: We’re not going to get involved in discussing anything about this case. Female Reporter: Is it just… DA Thomas Sneddon: No. Not to that either. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Okay. This lady right here. I’m sorry. Go ahead. Female Reporter: Where is the press release that you keep referring to that you’re going to be passing out? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Uh, our Press Information Officer, Chris Poppus, has that information. So, he’s here in the room somewhere. So, we’ll get that to ya. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold on. Hold on. Second part? Female Reporter: (inaudible) a booking photo when you do the actual booking? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yes, that has been our past practice. So, if and when that occurs, we will make that photograph available. Male Reporter: I want to make sure this is correct. Would it be fair to say…based on what you said before…that you have not ruled out charging other people? Is that a fair statement? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yes. Anything is possible. Male Reporter: Are you aware of other civil cases that have been handled outside of the media since ’93 that were kept quiet? Sheriff Jim Anderson: Not to my knowledge. Male Reporter: Really. Sheriff Jim Anderson: Yes. DA Thomas Sneddon: There’s…there’s…well…yeah, I am. Male Reporter: You are? DA Thomas Sneddon: Yeah. Male Reporter: How many? DA Thomas Sneddon: I’m…I’m…ask Diane she knows everything about Michael Jackson. [Press conference attendees laugh] Male Reporter: How are you aware of those? DA Thomas Sneddon: I read the papers once in a while! Female Reporter: Sheriff, (inaudible) Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold. Hold on. Female Reporter: (inaudible) Should this be on camera in court? DA Thomas Sneddon: Uh, we’re way…we got a long way to go before we get there. [Press conference attendees laugh] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold on. Hold on. This…this lady right here. DA Thomas Sneddon [smiling and pointing into the audience]: Probably different than yours, when you were in there. Female Reporter: It wasn’t my choice, Sir. [Press conference attendees laugh] [CNN’s cameraman turns camera away from podium and shows Marcia Clark in audience smiling and holding a microphone.] Male Reporter: Can you tell us what your…what would be… Sheriff Jim Anderson: Hold on, my friend. We’re going to entertain your question. DA Thomas Sneddon: All right! We’re going to give you…we’re going to give you two more questions… Sheriff Jim Anderson: Two more! DA Thomas Sneddon: …then we’re out of here! Sheriff Jim Anderson: Right here! Female Reporter: I’ve been curious if the parents of the current accuser were aware of the allegation against Michael Jackson 10 years ago. DA Thomas Sneddon [speaking to Sheriff Anderson]: What’d she say? Sheriff Jim Anderson: [speaking to DA Sneddon]: Um… Female Reporter: I’ve been curious if the parents of the current accuser…if they were aware of the charges, uh not the charges, but the allegations against Michael 10 years ago. DA Thomas Sneddon: I really couldn’t tell ya. Sheriff Jim Anderson: I couldn’t tell ya either. I don’t know. [Reporters ask multiple questions simultaneously] Sheriff Jim Anderson: Last…last question! Last question! Male Reporter: What do you say to parents who let their children go to Neverland Ranch on sleepovers? [Press conference attendees laugh] Sheriff Jim Anderson: My advice is don’t do it. [Press conference attendees laugh] DA Thomas Sneddon: None of our kids are there! Well, thank you very much! Sheriff Jim Anderson: Thank you! [DA Thomas Sneddon and Sheriff Jim Anderson leaves podium.] PRESS CONFERENCE CONCLUDES