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Computers seized in Michael Jackson case under analysis
By LINDA DEUTSCH
AP Special Correspondent
LOS ANGELES --
A dozen hard drives from computers seized at Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch and elsewhere are being analyzed by government technicians "who are not California peace officers," according to a motion filed Friday by prosecutors in his child molestation case.
The motion asked Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville to seal the search warrants and affidavits which would explain what data was being sought from the computers.
They also moved to seal the documents which will be filed once the search is completed.
"The authorized further inspection of the hard drives has not yet been undertaken and no return has been filed," said a declaration by Deputy District Attorney Gerald McC. Franklin.
Jackson is charged with seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an "intoxicating agent." He pleaded innocent Jan. 16 in Melville's court in Santa Maria.
The prosecution motion said the hard drives were taken from three computers seized during a Nov. 18 search of Jackson's home and property. It also indicated that hard drives were also taken from an unspecified address in Los Angeles County. The address was deleted from the motion.
"This motion to seal records pertains to search warrant ... for the further inspection, with the aide of government technicians who are not California peace officers, of 12 hard drives obtained from computers seized on Nov. 18 from Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos and from the residence at (address deleted) Los Angeles County on Nov. 18, 2003," Franklin's declaration said.
Franklin argued that the information set out in the search warrant affidavit is privileged because it involves an investigation of child molestation. "I hereby claim and assert that privilege," he said.
He added that it would be in the best interest of both parties to have jurors "who are able to consider the evidence introduced at trial without having to consciously set aside information they may have gained from media reports of 'evidence' that may or may not be put before them...."
The document said that the warrant for further inspection of the hard drives was issued on Feb. 2. Normally search warrants become public record 10 days after they are executed.
The prosecutor acknowledged there are few exceptions to that rule but said one of them is when the material is privileged.
The motion is set to be argued at Jackson's next pretrial hearing Feb. 13.
In another action Friday, the judge denied press requests for cameras to be admitted to the courtroom at the Feb. 13 hearing. He barred cameras from Jackson's arraignment last month but was asked by a group of news organizations including The Associated Press to reconsider his ruling for the pretrial hearing.
Jackson is not expected to attend the hearing. He signed a waiver of appearance which allows his lawyers to act on his behalf.
The judge rejected the request for cameras without comment, merely filling out a standard form and checking the word "Denied."
Ahora dejemonos de tonterias de abusos a menores, de conductas lascivas y de niños muertos (por cancer).
Que es realmente lo que buscan de Michael Jackson?
Que tiene que ver lo que pueda tener Michael en sus ordenadores para que sean requisados y analizados?
No eran tan claras las pruebas del fiscal?
By LINDA DEUTSCH
AP Special Correspondent
LOS ANGELES --
A dozen hard drives from computers seized at Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch and elsewhere are being analyzed by government technicians "who are not California peace officers," according to a motion filed Friday by prosecutors in his child molestation case.
The motion asked Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville to seal the search warrants and affidavits which would explain what data was being sought from the computers.
They also moved to seal the documents which will be filed once the search is completed.
"The authorized further inspection of the hard drives has not yet been undertaken and no return has been filed," said a declaration by Deputy District Attorney Gerald McC. Franklin.
Jackson is charged with seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an "intoxicating agent." He pleaded innocent Jan. 16 in Melville's court in Santa Maria.
The prosecution motion said the hard drives were taken from three computers seized during a Nov. 18 search of Jackson's home and property. It also indicated that hard drives were also taken from an unspecified address in Los Angeles County. The address was deleted from the motion.
"This motion to seal records pertains to search warrant ... for the further inspection, with the aide of government technicians who are not California peace officers, of 12 hard drives obtained from computers seized on Nov. 18 from Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos and from the residence at (address deleted) Los Angeles County on Nov. 18, 2003," Franklin's declaration said.
Franklin argued that the information set out in the search warrant affidavit is privileged because it involves an investigation of child molestation. "I hereby claim and assert that privilege," he said.
He added that it would be in the best interest of both parties to have jurors "who are able to consider the evidence introduced at trial without having to consciously set aside information they may have gained from media reports of 'evidence' that may or may not be put before them...."
The document said that the warrant for further inspection of the hard drives was issued on Feb. 2. Normally search warrants become public record 10 days after they are executed.
The prosecutor acknowledged there are few exceptions to that rule but said one of them is when the material is privileged.
The motion is set to be argued at Jackson's next pretrial hearing Feb. 13.
In another action Friday, the judge denied press requests for cameras to be admitted to the courtroom at the Feb. 13 hearing. He barred cameras from Jackson's arraignment last month but was asked by a group of news organizations including The Associated Press to reconsider his ruling for the pretrial hearing.
Jackson is not expected to attend the hearing. He signed a waiver of appearance which allows his lawyers to act on his behalf.
The judge rejected the request for cameras without comment, merely filling out a standard form and checking the word "Denied."
Ahora dejemonos de tonterias de abusos a menores, de conductas lascivas y de niños muertos (por cancer).
Que es realmente lo que buscan de Michael Jackson?
Que tiene que ver lo que pueda tener Michael en sus ordenadores para que sean requisados y analizados?
No eran tan claras las pruebas del fiscal?
Te garantizo inmunidad diplomática. 
