The Time Line
It was an odd morning in the Santa Barbara courthouse on 16 January 2004, the day Michael Jackson was formally arraigned on molestation charges. His parents, Katherine and Joseph, were present for the arraignment to lend their support, as were brothers Jermaine, Tito and Randy. Michael’s attorneys showed up without their client. Michael eventually made his entrance with his gorgeous sister, Janet. There were photographers present from around the globe, clicking away as Michael gestured, smiled and shook hands, as if on a red carpet. He looked strong, prepared.
Afterward, much to the thrill of the hundreds – maybe thousands – of fans who came from around the world to demonstrate their support, Michael jumped atop a sports utility vehicle and executed a couple of slight moves – with his cameramen at his side documenting the odd but somehow dazzling moment. He’s a man who understands the value of illusion – that being that he’s perfectly fine and not broken by recent events – and, also, the importance of simple entertainment. He was giving his fans want they wanted from him. When he’s in public, no matter the circumstances – even the most difficult ones – he’s on stage. He’s also enough of a dreamer to muse that ‘one day’, the documentation of such an ‘historical’ day will make one hell of a great film.
After the judge chastised him for being late – as if Michael has ever been on time for anything in his entire life; the judge had better learn to yield to ‘Jackson Time’ – he humbly pleaded innocent to all the counts against him: seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an ‘intoxicating agent with intent to commit a felony’. Those who know him well have recalled, privately, that the day of the arraignment was ‘the worst of all days for Michael’, that he was ‘scared out of his wits’, and had not had a wink of sleep in any of the nights prior to it. A knot remained tight in his stomach the entire morning, though one would never know it by looking at him. His once agile dancer’s body was a mass of aches and pains, the result of stress and anxiety. The back of his neck throbbed. His temples hurt. His vision was blurry, he would later confide. However, he was determined to put on a strong front for the cameras, for the public and, especially, for his fans. He had to rise above. He’d done it countless times before, and he’d do it again.
So, what is the case against Michael Jackson? With the DA Tom Sneddon’s evidence still sealed, all of what he has on Michael is still unknown, as of this writing. However, what is known is that the DA believes that Michael abused his victim between 7 February and 10 March 2003 – that is, after the Martin Bashir documentary was broadcast, after Christian Anderson’s interview with the Arvizo family, after Michael’s TV rebuttal, after he hired Mark Geragos to look into the matter… and while the DCFS and the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department was investigating it.
In essence, what the case against Michael Jackson boils down to, is the following timeline:
6 February 2003 –
Living with Michael Jackson
, the Martin Bashir documentary, is broadcast in the United States.
7 February 2003 – Michael supposedly begins sexually molesting the young boy, Gavin Arvizo, who was seen in the documentary with him.
11 February – Dr Carole Lieberman lodges an official complaint that the relationship seen between Michael and Gavin Arvizo on the Martin Bashir documentary looks suspicious. Others complaints follow.
14 February – The Department of Children and Family Services and the Los Angeles Police Department begin their investigations into the relationship between the star and the boy.
18 February – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department begins its own investigation.
February (date unknown): Christian Anderson conducts an interview with the family for Michael’s rebuttal documentary,
The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Not Meant to See
.
24 February – The DCFS and LA Police probe ends with conclusions that any allegations are ‘unfounded’.
10 March – Michael Jackson supposedly stops molesting Gavin Arvizo.
16 April – The Santa Barbara County Department ends its investigation and closes its case against Michael, saying that the elements of criminal activity had not been meant.
13 June – The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department receives a report from Dr Stan Katz in which the family changes its story and alleges that molestation actually
had
taken place, and that Gavin Arvizo (and his brother and sister) were also given intoxicating agents, by Michael. The investigation is re-opened, and the family is (later) interviewed by the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department.
18 November 2003 – Neverland is raided by the police.
The question remains: Which of the children’s stories is to be believed? The one they told documentarians Martin Bashir and Christian Anderson, and also the DCFS, that Michael Jackson was a father-figure who had coddled a cancer victim and his siblings? Or the one they told Larry Feldman and Dr Stan Katz, that paints him as a child-molester who had got them all loaded and had sex with one of them?
In the Arvizo family’s defence, their supporters insist that it wasn’t until June 2003 – when Janet Ventura-Arvizo took her son to Larry Feldman and then Dr Stan Katz – that Gavin felt he could safely reveal details of his molestation. Perhaps that’s true. A victim of sexual abuse often does not want to come forward immediately with details of his ordeal. However, why would all the children change their stories? Why does Star Arvizo suddenly remember witnessing the sexual molestation, but previously hadn’t recalled any of those kinds of details, or even hinted at them? Why does he also suddenly remember being given alcohol by Michael? Why does Daveline Arvizo now remember that she was given wine? Even if everyone had been reticent about saying anything critical about Michael and the way he had behaved toward them, did they have to go so far as to, instead, paint a glowing picture of him? If they had all been too frightened or too intimidated to come clean about any of his behaviour, wouldn’t they have just not said much at all… instead of complimenting Michael Jackson to the point of making him seem like their Saviour? It simply doesn’t add up.
In the end, the case against Michael Jackson will hinge on whatever reasons Gavin, Star, Daveline and Janet Arvizo give as to why they changed their stories, from denials to accusations – and those reasons may not even be known until the trial begins, which will probably not be until early 2005. Were they motivated by money? Did someone else put ideas in their heads? Or did they all finally see the light and decide to tell their
real
story about Michael Jackson? Indeed, the answers to those questions will either send Michael Jackson to prison… or set him free.