Los Angeles, Dec 17: Santa Barbara county prosecutors said they will file charges in the molestation case against Michael Jackson tomorrow or Friday, and they have hired a public relations firm to handle the expected crush of news media inquiries. The charges will be filed at the courthouse in Santa Maria, near the singer's Neverland ranch, district attorney Thomas Sneddon said in a statement.

Sneddon's hiring of a firm to deal with the media drew immediate criticism from Jackson family spokesman Brian Oxman. He said it was improper, because "a district attorney is supposed to try the case in court, not in the press." Oxman also repeated criticism of Sneddon for making jokes at a news conference last month when Jackson's arrest warrant was announced.


A secretary at the district attorney's office said Sneddon would have no further comment.


Bureau Report