Created: Friday, 08 April 2005
Thursday, April 7, 2005 Day 27 of Michael Jackson’s trial featured testimony from a security guard that had been fired for stealing at Mr. Jackson’s ranch before he ever brought any accusations against Mr. Jackson.
The former security guard, Ralph Chacon, was attacked by Mr. Jackson’s lawyer as making the whole thing up “to get even.” Defense attorney Thomas Mr. Mesereau Jr. accused Chacon of having tried to “extort” $16 million from Mr. Jackson in a lawsuit and lengthy trial that he and the former maid lost, forcing Chacon into bankruptcy.
“After a six-month trial, this is a good way to get even with him, isn’t it?” said Mr. Mesereau, drawing a strong objection from the prosecution.
Mr. Jackson’s lawyers exposed Ralph Chacon, painting him as a cash-strapped, disgruntled former employee who was out to extort Mr. Jackson.
The boy, that Chacon says he saw engaged in what he defines as ‘inappropriate behavior’ with Mr. Jackson, received a financial settlement, from Mr. Jackson in 1994. The boy did not cooperate with a police investigation and no charges were filed against Mr. Jackson. The boy is not scheduled to testify in the trial.
Adrian McManus, a Mr. Jackson maid between 1990 and 1994, also testified Thursday that she saw Mr. Jackson kiss Macaulay Culkin on the cheek while his hand was on Culkin’s bottom. The defense has asserted that Culkin has repeatedly said he was never molested, and a spokeswoman for the actor has said he has no plans to be part of the case.
But McManus also testified that when subpoenaed in the lawsuit that resulted in the 1994 settlement she did not tell attorneys that she had seen Mr. Jackson touching the boy.
“I didn’t tell the truth. I said I didn’t see anything,” she said.
Chacon also acknowledged he was ordered to pay $25,000 for allegedly stealing Mr. Jackson’s property, which Chacon said was only a candy bar, and that he and others, including McManus, were ordered to pay more than $1.4 million in a judgment won by Mr. Jackson. Chacon said he had not paid anything because he filed for bankruptcy.
Lead defense lawyer Thomas Mr. Mesereau pointed out that Chacon and other former Neverland employees had lost a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against Mr. Jackson and that trial jurors found they had acted with malice toward Mr. Jackson.
In heated cross-examination, Chacon acknowledged that when he and other employees decided to sue Mr. Jackson they consulted a lawyer who told them the only way they could fund the suit was to sell stories to tabloids. He said they sold a story for $17,000 and all the money went to the lawyer.
Mr. Mesereau pressed him on whether he drafted the story at the lawyer’s office.
“I probably did,” said Chacon. “It’s been a long time.”
“Well, it’s no longer than some of these events you claim to have witnessed with Mr. Jackson,” Mr. Mesereau replied.
The witness paused and said, “I probably did. I did.”
He fended off Mr. Mesereau’s suggestions that he has added “more lurid facts” each time he has told his story, but he acknowledged that this week he met with Sneddon and gave him additional details.
“Did you say you forgot to say things about Mr. Mr. Jackson molesting young men in 1993?” asked Mr. Mesereau.
“Yes, sir,” said the witness.
“And now you remember them in 2005?” Mr. Mesereau said.
“Vaguely, yes,” Chacon said.
Contrary to news reports, Mr. Jackson’s mother left the courtroom during her son’s child molestation trial last week to use the rest room - not to avoid hearing graphic testimony.
“Accusing me of leaving due to graphic testimony when I simply went to the rest room is not fair, not accurate,” she said in a written statement.
Katherine Jackson stepped out during a break when attorneys were meeting in the judge’s chambers. When she tried to re-enter, the jury had already been seated and she had to wait until the next break.
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