Music

Police reveal Michael Jackson's alleged pornography collection

by Richard Howard

Seven years after his death, disturbing information has reportedly surfaced regarding the details of a raid at Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch. The raid was part of a 2003 investigation into the charges of child molestation brought against the superstar. Although he was acquitted two years later, Jackson’s reputation was forever tarnished and many continued to hold suspicions about his relationships with the young children he would invite to his estate. Now, a previously unseen police report has been released – detailing an alleged trove of pornographic material found in Jackson’s home.

The lengthy document obtained by Radar Online outlines the evidence allegedly collected during the raid conducted by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. It includes pornographic magazines and DVDs, books containing photos of semi-nude and nude men, women and adolescents and one volume that showed children’s faces superimposed on the nude bodies of adults.

Each item was meticulously described by the report’s author (presumably a Santa Barbara officer). In the case of pornographic material, they were all found to be legal (none were classified as child pornography) and the volumes containing adolescent nudity were found not to be pornographic in nature. However, in nearly all cases, the author closed his description with the following sentence:

Perhaps even more surprising is the disclosure that the singer’s home was searched in 1993 – the same year he was first accused of sexual abuse. A criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence, and Jackson settled out of court with the family. However, documents within the report show that during this search, three hardcover books containing photographs of nude children were allegedly found as well as two personal photographs – one of a nude boy believed to be Jackson’s young friend Jonathan Spence.

A document filed by the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office was also included, in which Jackson’s prosecutors attempted to show why the evidence collected was relevant and should be presented in court. Pointing to previous cases in an attempt to show precedent, they argued the material found showed Jackson had an attraction to young children and echoed the initial report’s suppositions that it could be used by a child molester to “groom” intended victims.

Vanity Fair contacted the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department for “confirmation and comment,” and received the following reply.

“Some of the documents appear to be copies of reports that were authored by Sheriff’s Office personnel as well as evidentiary photographs taken by Sheriff’s Office personnel interspersed with content that appears to be obtained off the Internet or through unknown sources. The Sheriff’s Office did not release any of the documents and/or photographs to the media. The Sheriff’s Office released all of its reports and the photographs as part of the required discovery process to the prosecution and the defense.”

The estate of Michael Jackson has since followed up with a statement (via Billboard):

“Seven years ago this coming Saturday, the world lost an amazing artist and humanitarian devoted to helping children in need in all corners of the world. Michael Jackson’s fans, including the Executors of his estate, prefer to remember the wonderful gifts Michael left behind instead of having to once again see his good name dragged through the mud by tabloid trash.

Everything in these reports, including what the County of Santa Barbara calls ‘content that appears to be obtained off the Internet or through unknown sources’ is false, no doubt timed to the anniversary of Michael’s passing. Those who continue to shamelessly exploit Michael via sleazy internet ‘click bait’ ignore that he was acquitted by a jury in 2005 on every one of the 14 salacious charges brought against him in a failed witch hunt.

Michael remains just as innocent of these smears in death as he was in life even though he isn’t here to defend himself. Enough is enough.”

Taj Jackson (Michael Jackson’s nephew and Tito Jackson’s son) also responded via Twitter: