@BettyBoopbegonetoYou: "Jackson's mouth swabbed for saliva
 12/5/04
By DAWN HOBBS 
Pop star provides sample to deputies for DNA testing
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
 In the latest bizarre twist in the Michael Jackson case, the pop star
helicoptered into Neverland Valley Ranch on Saturday morning so that
sheriff's deputies could swab his mouth for evidence, sources told the
News-Press.
 The authorities' visit came a day after they conducted an unexpected
raid on the ranch. They requested a saliva sample from Mr. Jackson for
DNA testing, the sources said, and he agreed to return Saturday to give
one.
 Mr. Jackson was cooperative during the process, which entailed using a
cotton swab to wipe the inside of his mouth, the sources said.
 It's unclear exactly how prosecutors will use the sample in their child
molestation case against the entertainer. Samples for DNA testing were
taken from Mr. Jackson's mattress during the initial raid last November,
when a convoy of 70 law enforcement officers descended on the sprawling
Los Olivos ranch to scour it for evidence. When the mattress samples
were compared to the DNA of the accuser, tests showed they did not
match.
 The latest raid came two months before the scheduled start of trial and
just before the judge's Monday deadline for each side to exchange
"discovery," which are materials generated during each of their
investigations.
 Legal observer Laurie Levenson said it was unusual to be gathering DNA
evidence so late in the case, but not unprecedented. Prosecutors could
be trying to corroborate statements from witnesses that they have just
found out about, said Ms. Levenson, a professor at Loyola University
School of Law and a former federal prosecutor.
 "Until you are really getting ready for trial and talking to witnesses,
you don't always know what is important," she said.
 On Friday morning, authorities served a search warrant for the DNA
sample and authorized investigators to measure and photograph rooms in
Mr. Jackson's residence for trial exhibits, sources said. Such orders
for DNA are common in criminal cases, but usually are sought through a
court motion rather than search warrant.
 Mr. Jackson was at home with his children when about a dozen law
enforcement officers and prosecutors showed up. Mr. Jackson left shortly
after, because his children were upset by law enforcement's startling
arrival, sources close to the entertainer said. His lead defense lawyer,
Thomas Mesereau, came from Los Angeles by helicopter and remained at the
ranch until authorities left about eight hours later, around 5:15 p.m.
 Mr. Mesereau drove back to the ranch at 8:30 a.m. Saturday to meet with
Mr. Jackson, who arrived alone in his private helicopter. Defense
co-counsel Robert Sanger drove up about 9:30 a.m. Authorities arrived
about a half hour later. Everyone left shortly after 11 a.m. Unlike
Friday, when news vans and satellite trucks lined Figueroa Mountain
Road, a lone NBC News van with a camera crew sat outside Neverland's
main gate.
 Mr. Jackson pleaded not guilty in April to child molestation and
conspiracy charges. Trial is set to begin Jan. 31 with jury selection.
 A gag order in the case prohibits attorneys from commenting.
 It's unclear why the prosecution did not gather basic measurements
during the initial raid of Neverland on Nov. 18, 2003. It is also not
known why prosecutors waited until a year after charges were filed and
seven months after a grand jury handed down a 10-count indictment
against Mr. Jackson to obtain his DNA.
 The tactics are reminiscent of the 1993 child molestation investigation
involving Mr. Jackson. Months after the initial raid of the ranch a
decade ago, officers returned to photograph Mr. Jackson's genitals to
corroborate the alleged victim's description. That case crumbled when
the accuser's family received a multimillion-dollar settlement from the
entertainer in a simultaneous civil suit.
 More than 100 warrants have been served over the last year authorizing
searches of everything from storage lockers, phone records and bank
accounts to private residences of Mr. Jackson's associates. Dozens of
these warrants were served within the last couple months, eliciting
criticism from Mr. Jackson's lawyers, who accuse Santa Barbara County
District Attorney Tom Sneddon of conducting "discovery by search
warrant" and say he should instead be using the less intrusive means of
a subpoena.
<url>"
    @johnlucas: "And to think Alan....that's exactly what they thought Michael was doing when
he did the Moonwalk. Smoke & mirrors.
John Lucas
news:eyHsd.624$<email_address>
<quote>
news:1gobf63.tbjvmr7mm7okN%BettyBoop*begone*<email_address>"
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