Michael Jackson allegedly paid the 12-year-old son of a Neverland Valley Ranch employee $2 million to keep him quiet about another accusation of child molestation, according to a report to be aired by NBC's news magazine "Dateline."
The "Dateline" segment is scheduled to air on NBC tonight, Friday, Sept. 3, 2004.
Jim Thomas, retired Santa Barbara County Sheriff, now an NBC analyst, told "Dateline" that as his office was investigating the estimated $20 million payoff to another boy who accused Jackson of molestation, investigators uncovered the second accusation.
"We always believed there were eight to 10 other children out there," Thomas said. "Many of them said that they had spent time with Michael Jackson. They had spent time in his bedroom, but that nothing had happened. Some wouldn't?t talk to us at all."
Thomas told the Associated Press the employee's son never filed charged against Jackson "because he was afraid his friends would think he was homosexual."
In other developments, recently released court documents show that the judge in the Michael Jackson case refused to lower the singer's $3 million bail because evidence in grand jury transcripts indicated he could easily be a flight risk.
Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville refused a request by Jackson's attorneys to reduce the bail because of his enormous wealth and one-time plan to move his accuser's family to Brazil.
"Defendant has the ability to hire private jets and has frequently traveled beyond the borders of the United States," Judge Melville said. The judge said the grand jury transcript provides detailed evidence that Jackson tried to arrange for the family of the boy he is accused of molesting to travel to Brazil, while family statements indicated "this was being done against their will."
"Assuming this evidence to be true, it demonstrates both the seriousness of the crime and the manner in which defendant handles situations perceived to be difficult," the judge's ruling said.
Jackson's trial is set to start Jan. 31.
See MSNBC: Jackson Paid $2M to Another Accuser
See AP report: Judge Won't Lower Michael Jackson's Bail
Background: The Michael Jackson Case
See also: False Imprisonment: The Michael Jackson Case
Extras: More Headline Cases
The "Dateline" segment is scheduled to air on NBC tonight, Friday, Sept. 3, 2004.
Jim Thomas, retired Santa Barbara County Sheriff, now an NBC analyst, told "Dateline" that as his office was investigating the estimated $20 million payoff to another boy who accused Jackson of molestation, investigators uncovered the second accusation.
"We always believed there were eight to 10 other children out there," Thomas said. "Many of them said that they had spent time with Michael Jackson. They had spent time in his bedroom, but that nothing had happened. Some wouldn't?t talk to us at all."
Thomas told the Associated Press the employee's son never filed charged against Jackson "because he was afraid his friends would think he was homosexual."
In other developments, recently released court documents show that the judge in the Michael Jackson case refused to lower the singer's $3 million bail because evidence in grand jury transcripts indicated he could easily be a flight risk.
Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville refused a request by Jackson's attorneys to reduce the bail because of his enormous wealth and one-time plan to move his accuser's family to Brazil.
"Defendant has the ability to hire private jets and has frequently traveled beyond the borders of the United States," Judge Melville said. The judge said the grand jury transcript provides detailed evidence that Jackson tried to arrange for the family of the boy he is accused of molesting to travel to Brazil, while family statements indicated "this was being done against their will."
"Assuming this evidence to be true, it demonstrates both the seriousness of the crime and the manner in which defendant handles situations perceived to be difficult," the judge's ruling said.
Jackson's trial is set to start Jan. 31.
See MSNBC: Jackson Paid $2M to Another Accuser
See AP report: Judge Won't Lower Michael Jackson's Bail
Background: The Michael Jackson Case
See also: False Imprisonment: The Michael Jackson Case
Extras: More Headline Cases