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Journalism of Courage
A grand jury in Santa Barbara indicted Michael Jackson on Wednesday on charges of child molesting, making it a virtual certainty that he will stand trial in a case brought by prosecutors in December, officials said.
Jackson had originally been accused of seven counts of sexually abusing a boy, now 14, and of two counts of giving him alcohol as part of the molesting. One of Jackson8217;s lawyers, Benjamin Brafman, issued a statement on Wednesday shortly before news of the sealed indictment broke, saying that his client 8216;8216;is not just presumed to be innocent, but is in fact innocent8217;8217;.
Jackson would appear for an arraignment in Santa Maria, on April 30 and will plead not guilty, Brafman said.
Brafman also noted that an indictment 8216;8216;is merely a formal accusation8217;8217;. 8212;NYT
