# NEWS FLASH: Michael Jackson Charges UNFOUNDED!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [December 10, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107 "2003-12-10T06:39:46Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/1 "2003-12-10T06:39:46Z")
Read all about it here:
[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc\_o\_day/doc\_o\_day.html](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/doc_o_day.html)
All of you fuckers that bought into the notion that he was guilty, I pit thee. Get a clue, you brainless sheep!
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### Author:  [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/2 "2003-12-10T06:56:12Z")
That must have been one fun memo to write.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/3 "2003-12-10T07:18:43Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by EasyPhil \*
> \*\*Read all about it here:
>
> [http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc\_o\_day/doc\_o\_day.html](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/doc_o_day/doc_o_day.html)
>
> All of you fuckers that bought into the notion that he was guilty, I pit thee. Get a clue, you brainless sheep! \*\*
Bah! You’re right about the fact that _someone_ needs to get a clue. Guilty in this specific case, or not, the fact of the matter is that Michael Jackson just can’t get enough of sleepovers with attractive, young adolescent and younger male children, and has pursued this behavior for decades, despite extreme social disapproval. For a 46 year old man to be doing this is creepy in the extreme, and parents offering thir children up to him for this purpose is beyond disgusting.
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### Author:  [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/4 "2003-12-10T07:23:02Z")
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, so now there mysteriously was NO contact?
Wonder how much he paid out this time?
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### Author:  [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/5 "2003-12-10T07:29:52Z")
Hmmm, let’s see- that’s an LA county memo concerning an investigation/interview of the mother of the alleged victim, and whether she was acting inappropriately in bringing her child around MJ. \*
That’s a bit different from the Santa Barbara investigation of Michael Jackson himself.
\*The whole business came to light through information revealed in therapy, so it’s no big surprise the mother would tell authorities she believed that nothing was going on.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/6 "2003-12-10T07:31:02Z")
It’s not the same investigation, dude. They investigated these claims earlier and _at that time_ found no grounds to file charges. New evidence has cropped up _since then_ and the investigation was reopened. . The _current_ investigation and pending charges are still going strong. There is nothing new here. MJ will still be charged.
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### Author:  [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/7 "2003-12-10T08:08:03Z")
Dude, read your own document. It says:
> [@](#):
>
> The boy’s February 2003 interview with child abuse investigators–not to mention those with his family– **appears to run counter to allegations he later made to law enforcement officials** in Santa Barbara, where Jackson was arrested November 20 and released on $3 million bail.
IOW, he said one thing then, he says another thing now. This obviously throws his credibility into some question, but it certainly doesn’t establish that that allegations aren’t true – or that they are, for that matter.
So who’s the brainless sheep now, dawg?
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### Author:  [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/8 "2003-12-10T08:15:09Z")
_I did NOT have sex with that …[fill in the blank]!_
😃 😛 😃 😛 😃 😛 :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/9 "2003-12-10T08:36:13Z")
Well… it’s not quite that cut-and-dried:
> [@](#):
>
> But in a strange twist, Los Angeles Police officials said in a written statement that their involvement in the investigation consisted of a failed bid to interview the boy and his family.
>
> “A Los Angeles Police Department detective accompanied a DCFS caseworker to make contact with the child at an address that had been provided to DCFS,” the statement said. "The child and his family could not be located at the address.
>
> “The Department of Children and Family Services no longer required the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department,” the statement said. “The Los Angeles Police Department had no further involvement in this matter.”
From [here](http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=805370&tw=wn_wire_story).
For all I know, maybe Michael didn’t do it. But according to the LAPD, that memo hardly proves his innocence.
**Baaaaaa!**
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### Author:  [@Ayesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ayesha)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/10 "2003-12-10T11:59:38Z")
Guess what, there are times when a child who IS being sexually
abused will lie if asked about it. There are a lot of reasons for it, sometimes it is out of fear of the abuser, shame because the child may feel that it is his/her fault this happened. Some will lie about it because they may have found some of the physical sensations enjoyable and are ashamed of that. Even fear that they (the child) will be in trouble with the law, family members or someone else. And sadly sometimes a child will lie about it because the abuser is someone that the child loves and wants to protect. Over time whatever reasons the child had for saying it did not happen when it did may change and the child is able to tell the truth.
It is also possible that the child was telling the truth about nothing happening and under pressure and/or coaching from someone will change their story.
My personal opinion is that any parent who allows their child to spend one half of an instant with someone who has the very public … um shall we say, reputation, that MJ has is as much to blame as the pervert himself should that child be molested. Because the parent(s) put the child in the place and position to be molested. Again, that is my opinion.
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### Author:  [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/11 "2003-12-10T12:58:58Z")
There was a piece on this on NPR yesterday. The gist of this was that “unfounded” doesn’t equate to “untrue.” Instead, it means that the charges could not be proven based on the results of their investigation. The speaker (whose name escapes me) pointed out that the sherriff’s department, which ran a separate investigation has a whole lot more culpatory (is that a word) evidence. I tried looking for the story on NPR’s website, but no luck.
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### Author:  [@CheekyMonkey613](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheekyMonkey613)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/12 "2003-12-10T13:28:42Z")
_"…when the child was questioned in February by a social worker… he said that he never “slept in the same bed as the entertainer… During the February 6 program, the child was seen holding hands with Jackson and resting his head against the singer’s shoulder.”_
I could be wrong… But I seem to remember that VERY interview (and reruns with the boys face now blurred). I’m almost positive the BOY HIMSELF said that they slept in the same bed together. The first time, I just thought “That’s just too weird” and dismissed it. The second time, after MJ’s arrest, I noticed that MJ looked at the boy and smiled after he said that. And I thought to myself, “You didn’t want that to come out, did ya?”
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Given the “new” circumstances, I either read too much into that look, or noticed something new. One way or the other, I’m almost sure the boy even said they slept in the same bed. I could be wrong, but I’d love to see a transcript.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/13 "2003-12-10T14:19:26Z")
Perhaps if we ever find out what evidence was found in the sweep of his home, the situation will become more clear.
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### Author:  [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/14 "2003-12-10T14:27:57Z")
Even if (and I do mean a mighty big IF) MJ did not technically diddle any kids, his behavior with underage boys is still deeply inappropriate. Middle-aged men have no business sleeping in bed with young boys. Does **Easy Phil** see no impropriety in MJ’s actions? Does he not see how closely MJ fits the classic profile for pedophiles?
And IMO any parent who allowed their kid to spend unsupervised time with MJ ought to be arraigned as an accessory to molestation.
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### Author:  [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/15 "2003-12-10T14:36:02Z")
Until he’s done something wrong, he’s done nothing wrong.
I’m sure most people would be torn up about a caring guy with lots of money making a huge area for kids to play at. That’s terrible. Any self-respecting parent would look the other way at something like that, obviously. What will they think of next, some strange “Disney” land where children’s movies come to life?
Or is it, “At least Disney rapes people’s wallets for it”?
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### Author:  [@CheekyMonkey613](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheekyMonkey613)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/16 "2003-12-10T14:41:19Z")
Better my wallet than my son.
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### Author:  [@TVAA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVAA)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/17 "2003-12-10T14:43:59Z")
Why, exactly, is it deeply inappropriate?
Michael Jackson is creepy, and possibly a child molester. But your attitude does not seem to be supported by a rational analysis of your statements.
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### Author:  [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/18 "2003-12-10T14:47:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by erislover \*
> Until he’s done something wrong, he’s done nothing wrong.
Yeah, that’s kinda the point. That’s why he’s not in jail at this time. No one has proven he has done “wrong” by legal standards.
Now, by society’s standards, he’s done a lot of “weird.” “Wrong” is in there, too, for some (perhaps many) folks – a 46-year-old man sleeping with children is going to get looked at askance and judged by a goodly chunk of this society.
> [@](#):
>
> I’m sure most people would be torn up about a caring guy with lots of money making a huge area for kids to play at. That’s terrible. Any self-respecting parent would look the other way at something like that, obviously. What will they think of next, some strange “Disney” land where children’s movies come to life?
If you seriously think folks are mad/upset/weirded out by Michael Jackson creating a large play area, you’re waaaay off base. That ain’t the issue here.
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### Author:  [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/19 "2003-12-10T14:50:27Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by TVAA \*
> \*\*Why, exactly, is it deeply inappropriate?
>
> Michael Jackson is creepy, and possibly a child molester. But your attitude does not seem to be supported by a rational analysis of your statements. \*\*
Do you even read your own posts? Look at your first sentence, then reflect on a 46-year-old man soliciting prepubescent boys to sleep with.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/news-flash-michael-jackson-charges-unfounded/218107/20 "2003-12-10T15:20:36Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by TVAA \*
> \*\*Why, exactly, is it deeply inappropriate?
>
> Michael Jackson is creepy, and possibly a child molester. But your attitude does not seem to be supported by a rational analysis of your statements. \*\*
TVAA, could you explain this statement of yours in somewhat more detail, because try as I might, I can’t get it to make any sense whatsoever. Please indicate how you are “rationally analyzing” gobear’s statements, and deeming them insupportable of the conclusion that Michael Jackson’s behavior with young boys is “deeply inappropriate”.
Gobear said:
1: Even if (and I do mean a mighty big IF) MJ did not technically diddle any kids, his behavior with underage boys is still deeply inappropriate.
2: Middle-aged men have no business sleeping in bed with young boys.
3: Does Easy Phil see no impropriety in MJ’s actions?
4: Does he not see how closely MJ fits the classic profile for pedophiles?
5: And IMO any parent who allowed their kid to spend unsupervised time with MJ ought to be arraigned as an accessory to molestation.
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