Michael Jackson’s activities at Neverland Ranch are back in the news this week amid the disclosure of documents suggesting the King of Pop kept a stash of pornography there.

The issue of pornography first arose about a decade ago when Jackson was on trial on molestation charges.

At the time, Santa Barbara County prosecutors described Neverland as a fantasy world that Jackson built to lure young boys, who he then “groomed” with alcohol and pornography before molesting them. Jackson was acquitted in that case. He died in 2009.

Now, Radar Online has published what appear to be case documents as well as pornographic images that were purportedly among items Jackson used to lure children.


Kelly Hoover, a spokeswoman for the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, told The Times “some of the documents appear to be copies of reports that were authored by Sheriff’s Office” along with evidentiary photographs taken by Sheriff’s Office personnel. But she cautioned that they are interspersed with content that appears to be obtained off the Internet or through other sources. The sheriff’s material, she added, had case numbers on it.

Hoover said the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office did not release any of the documents or photographs to the media.

Jackson’s estate blasted the release of the documents, stating that fans of the late singer prefer to remember his talents rather than having to “see his good name dragged through the mud by tabloid trash.

“Everything in these reports, including what the County of Santa Barbara calls ‘content that appears to be obtained off the Internet or through unknown sources’ is false, no doubt timed to the anniversary of Michael’s passing,” the statement said.


“Those who continue to shamelessly exploit Michael via sleazy internet ‘click bait’ ignore that he was acquitted by a jury in 2005 on every one of the 14 salacious charges brought against him in a failed witch hunt.”

richard.winton@latimes.com

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UPDATES:

10:42 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Jackson’s estate.


This article was originally published at 2:06 p.m.