Santa Barbara sheriff’s investigating leaks in Jackson case

Posted on Mon, Jan. 24, 2005 [b]Santa Barbara sheriff’s investigating leaks in Jackson case[/b] Associated Press SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Sheriff’s investigators denied they are the source of recent leaks to the media in the Michael Jackson child molestation case and also said Monday that an investigation has been started to find who might be responsible. A posting on the sheriff’s Web site Monday said the information that has been released is covered by Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville’s sweeping gag order in the case. “We consider the release of the these materials to be a violation of the law,” the online statement said. “Some media commentators have alleged that we are responsible for these leaks. We are not. These accusations are irresponsible, unfounded and untrue.” Sgt. Chris Pappas declined to comment further about the details, citing the judge’s gag order. The statement is, in part, a response to the recent ABC News report that quotes from transcripts of grand jury testimony given in the molestation case. Jackson’s accuser described Jackson’s alleged crimes in graphic detail, including an incident when the pop star allegedly molested him on a bed. ABC has not revealed how it received more than 1,900 pages of grand jury testimony. Grand jury transcripts normally are made public in California 10 days after a defendant receives them. The judge, however, has kept the Jackson transcripts sealed, along with most other documents in the case. Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/10723082.htm