Just weeks before Michael Jackson's scheduled trial on child-molestation charges, his Neverland Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley was raided Friday - for the second time in the current case - by Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies and prosecutors.

Officials would not explain their reasons for the day-long search of the entertainer's sprawling ranch. Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Chris Pappas issued only a terse statement:

"At around 9 a.m., sheriff's investigators served a search warrant at the Neverland Ranch, located at 5225 Figueroa Mountain Road in Los Olivos, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation."

Attorneys for Jackson did not return calls seeking comment.

A gag ordered prohibits either side in the case from speaking publicly.

The singer was at home with his children when the warrant was served, according to Jim Thomas, former Santa Barbara County sheriff, who is following the case closely. Jackson remained in a guest cottage on the property throughout the day, Thomas said.

Law enforcement last swarmed Neverland more than a year ago.

Advertisement

Jackson, 46, is scheduled to go on

trial Jan. 31, and prosecutors were supposed to have shared all discovery evidence with the defense by Monday.

Local defense attorney Steve Balash, who is not involved in the case, said that whatever new evidence authorities were seeking must have been compelling for a judge to sign off on a search warrant at this late date.

"The search warrant can only be issued if the judge finds that there's evidence present at this time and place which constitutes a felony," Balash said. "When you're authorizing officers to essentially take control of someone's home, that's serious."

The late search could result in the defense seeking a postponement of the trial, Balash said.

Several media reports indicated that officials were on the property to collect a DNA sample from Jackson, but Balash was skeptical of those accounts.

"You don't need a search warrant for (DNA collection)," he said. "All you do is call the defense lawyer. If the defense refuses, you can get an order from a judge."

Jason Karpf, who works for a public relations company working with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's office, would only say the search was "authorized by a judge."

Jackson has pleaded not guilty to engaging in lewd acts with an unnamed boy on four occasions in 2003 and four counts of "administering an intoxicating agent" to help him with the alleged molestations. He also has pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy charge involving child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion and a count of attempted child molestation.

Defense lawyers have claimed the accuser's family made the allegations as part of a "shakedown" to win a financial award from the singer. In 1993, Jackson paid more than $20 million to a boy who made similar accusations against him.

Deputies searched the 2,700-acre property for more than eight hours Friday. Journalists lined the fence outside Neverland, but much of the search was likely focused on a complex of buildings that can't be seen from the road.

Along with a large main residence and several outbuildings, Neverland Ranch has a zoo and amusement park. Deputies stood guard near a gatehouse on the property as media helicopters hovered above looking for a better view.

Motorists slowed their cars as they passed the home, which is set amid rolling green hills in the Santa Ynez Valley. Local resident and musician David Crosby was among those spotted taking a look from his sports car as he passed by.

Neverland was last searched Nov. 18, 2003, when more than 60 law enforcement officers swarmed the property. Two days later, the singer was booked on suspicion of child molestation.

Prosecutors first filed child-molestation charges against the singer Dec. 18, 2003. They later convened a grand jury, which indicted Jackson on expanded charges, including the alleged conspiracy.

* Staff writer Quintin Cushner can be reached at 739-2217 or

by e-mail at qcushner@pulitzer.net.

Dec. 4, 2004