Jackson Set for Arraignment on Charges

[AP / LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent]

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) -- The Santa Maria courthouse had
the look Thursday of a fortress ready for a siege, with chain link
fences and metal barricades to hold back an expected invasion of
Michael Jackson fans.
Police officers placed orange traffic cones to stop parking
in front of the courthouse where the superstar is set to appear for
arraignment Friday on a grand jury indictment charging him with
child molestation.
Forty-two of Santa Maria's 107 police officers will be at
the courthouse, along with about 50 sheriff's deputies. More than
1,000 fans and at least 130 members of the media were expected.
Police Chief Danny Macagni's advice to Jackson was to avoid
a repeat of his first court appearance in January, when the singer
got atop the sport utility vehicle that brought him to court, waved
to fans and did a few dance steps.
"Hey listen, we're here to provide security for you,"
Macagni said. "Go into the courtroom, conduct your business. Don't
put yourself in harm's way by grandstanding to the crowd. This is
not the place."
Inside the courtroom, Jackson's new legal team will stand
beside him to hear details of a grand jury indictment.
Jackson's new lead lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr., declined to
comment on the upcoming events, saying he had been on the case only
four days and wanted to show respect for the judge by not speaking
to the media.
The indictment returned last week is so secret that the
court schedule doesn't even list an arraignment. But reading of the
indictment is expected to be the first matter taken up.
Jackson can plead innocent or he can decline to enter a plea
if his lawyer says he needs more time to study the document.
The indictment could expand on the original charges: lewd
and lascivious conduct with a child under the age of 14 and giving
an intoxicant, reportedly wine, to a youth under 14.
Mesereau took over the case last weekend after Jackson
decided to remove Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman, the two
high-profile lawyers who had been directing his defense. The star
said he wanted lawyers who could devote full attention to his case.
Geragos is busy defending Scott Peterson in northern California.
The entry of Mesereau, who previously represented actor
Robert Blake, may signal a change in the direction of a case that
has drawn worldwide attention.
"It's been bizarre from the start," said Loyola University
law professor Laurie Levenson. "It started off bizarre with
(District Attorney Tom) Sneddon's press conference, the massive
search of Neverland and then Jackson dancing on an SUV and inviting
everyone to party at Neverland. I don't think you're going to see
that kind of behavior this time. The indictment means things are
getting serious."
The police chief, meanwhile, said he continued to receive
mixed signals from the Jackson camp about who will be guarding the
superstar.
A private security team notified city police earlier in the
week that they -- and not Nation of Islam members -- were guarding
Jackson. But the firm told Macagni early Thursday that it had been
fired.
"They called us this morning and said, 'We're out. We don't
know who's in, but we won't be there,'" Macagni said.
------
Associated Press Writer Ryan Pearson contributed to this
report.

[AP / LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent]

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) -- The Santa Maria courthouse had
the look Thursday of a fortress ready for a siege, with chain link
fences and metal barricades to hold back an expected invasion of
Michael Jackson fans.
Police officers placed orange traffic cones to stop parking
in front of the courthouse where the superstar is set to appear for
arraignment Friday on a grand jury indictment charging him with
child molestation.
Forty-two of Santa Maria's 107 police officers will be at
the courthouse, along with about 50 sheriff's deputies. More than
1,000 fans and at least 130 members of the media were expected.

Late Thursday, dozens of fans gathered outside the singer's
Neverland Ranch about 30 miles from the courthouse for a candlelight
vigil.
"I think it's an injustice the way the media is portraying
him," said Paul Thomas, 25, a design and technology student from
London who arrived in California on Wednesday. "They're being so
negative about it."
Thomas said he told his college he was sick for the week and
estimated that he spent about $700 on the trip. He planned to be at
the courthouse by 7 a.m. Friday.

[AP / LINDA DEUTSCH, AP Special Correspondent]

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) -- Michael Jackson's arraignment on
a grand jury indictment marks a turning point in the five-month-old
child molestation case against the singer, moving him closer to a
trial.
With a new team of lawyers in place, Jackson appears to be
continuing to rejuggle his inner circle to prepare for the ordeal
ahead. Sources say he has minimized the involvement of the Nation of
Islam and is relying more heavily on his brother Randy for advice.
On Thursday, word came that Jackson had fired a security
service he hired to replace the Nation of Islam guards, and it was
unclear who would be guarding him from now on.
Police Chief Danny Macagni said 42 of Santa Maria's 107
police officers were assigned to the courthouse, along with about 50

sheriff's deputies. More than 1,000 fans and at least 130 members of
the media were expected.

Thomas Mesereau Jr., a veteran criminal defense attorney,

took over the case last weekend after Jackson decided to remove Mark
Geragos and Benjamin Brafman, the two high-profile lawyers who had
been directing his defense. The star said he wanted lawyers who

could devote full time to his case.
The Mesereau team includes his law partner Susan Yu and two
longtime Jackson attorneys, Steve Cochran and Robert Sanger.
While the law team prepared for actions inside the courtroom
Friday, the city of Santa Maria was getting ready for an invasion of
Michael Jackson fans outside.
The courthouse resembled a fortress ready for a siege with
chain link fences and metal barricades erected to hold back the
expected crowd. Police officers placed orange traffic cones to stop
parking in front of the courthouse.
A web site for Jackson fans encouraged them to show up and
demonstrate support for their idol. Chartered buses were available
from Los Angeles, and a hotel in nearby Solvang was giving fans a
special rate.
On Thursday night, two to three dozen fans from around the
world gathered outside the singer's Neverland Ranch about 30 miles
from the courthouse for a candlelight vigil. Some wore black "Free
Michael" T-shirts, and one dressed as the singer.
Paul Thomas, a 25-year-old student who arrived in California
from London on Wednesday, said he planned to be at the courthouse by
7 a.m. Friday.
"I didn't come here to gawk at him. I just want to support
him," he said. "I think he is a good role model. He has a lot of
morals. You can see he's a nice person, always giving to charity."

Thomas said he told his college he was sick for the week and
estimated that he spent about $700 on the trip.

Pedro Rivero, a 22-year-old who flew to the area from
Madrid, said he had a feeling he needed to be at the arraignment.
"Everything that's happening is so unfair," said Rivero, who
said he had been inside Neverland in the past and met Jackson "too
many times to count."
"He's just so genuine, so pure," he said. "I think he's the
best."
Rivero and other overseas fans said they stayed in touch
about Jackson's whereabouts and such gatherings through cell phone
text messages, online postings and e-mails.
When Jackson was arraigned on a district attorney's
complaint last January, some 3,000 fans clogged the streets and
cheered him on as he hopped on top of a sport utility vehicle and
entertained them with a dance.
Experts said it was likely that Jackson's new lawyer advised
him such raucous displays are not in his best interest.
"The indictment means things are getting serious," said
Loyola University Professor Laurie Levenson. She said Jackson's
behavior at the arraignment sets the tone for the rest of the case.
"The question is which Michael Jackson are we going to get --
the one who says he is serious about saving his life or the one who
dances on cars."
The indictment returned last week was so secret that the

court schedule doesn't even list an arraignment.

Jackson had already been charged with lewd and lascivious

conduct with a child under the age of 14 and giving an intoxicant,
reportedly wine, to a youth under 14.