Jackson appears at court to face child molestation charges

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 17, 2004

Jackson appears at court to face child molestation charges

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Michael Jackson appears at court

US pop superstar Michael Jackson, escorted by lawyers and surrounded by hundreds of supporters and police, arrived Friday morning at a court in Santa Maria in central California to counter child molestation charges.

Under the extremely tight security, Jackson was accompanied into the courthouse by his lawyers Mark Geragos and Benjamin Brafman, and family members including brother Jermaine, sister Janet and his parents.

Wearing a dark suit, Jackson shook hands with some of supporters, who were separated by metal fences erected by the police. Many of them have camped outside the court to show their support to the pop singer.

About 1,000 people, including the fans, international media members and onlookers, gathered before the court to witness Jakcson's first court appearance since he was charged with child molestations last November.

Jackson, who abandoned his fabled Neverland Ranch after the case broke, arrived from Beverly Hills where he has rented a mansion.

Jackson, 45, is charged with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. He faces more than 20 years in prison if found guilty.

Jackson, free on a 3-million-dollar bail, has maintained his innocence.

Before the court appearance, Jackson's attorney Geragos issued a statement that the singer would enter a plea of not guilty when he appears in court on child sex charges.

"Michael will enter a plea of not guilty," Geragos announced, adding that Brafman, another high profile celebrity attorney, had joined Jackson's defense team.

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