LOS ANGELES (AP) – A prosecutor demanded that Michael Jackson, facing child molestation charges, prove that he plans to go to Britain to promote his new CD or surrender his passport.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon made the demand for “documented confirmation” on Jackson’s plan to his attorney, Mark Geragos, in a faxed letter Monday.
Sneddon said in a statement that he sought confirmation of the planned Dec. 20 to Jan. 6 promotional trip after hearing unspecified reports that the singer had canceled it.
Geragos was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.
Jackson, 45, turned himself into authorities last month.
He was charged Thursday with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent. He remains free on $3 million bail.
Sneddon agreed to return Jackson’s passport last week after Geragos said the entertainer needed to fulfill contractual obligations related to his new CD, “Number Ones.”
London’s Sun newspaper reported Monday that Jackson had pulled out of a planned Christmas tour.
But Jackson’s spokesman, Stuart Backerman, said Monday that he believed the trip was still on.
“I’m not aware of any cancellation,” Backerman said. “He still is planning to go as far as I know.”
AP-ES-12-23-03 1506EST
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