Jackson lawyers urge judge to bar evidence of alleged past offenses

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Lawyers for Michael Jackson urged a judge to deny a prosecution request to present evidence of alleged past sexual offenses during the pop singer's upcoming child molestation trial.

"This is the same 'evidence' that left two separate grand juries so unimpressed with the prosecution's 'case' that they did not return indictments," Jackson's lawyer, Robert Sanger, said in court documents released Friday.

Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville will hear arguments on the issue Wednesday.

In a motion released last month, prosecutors argued the evidence should be admitted under a 1995 California law that lets relevant previous acts, whether prosecuted or not, be considered in sex crime cases.

Prosecutors said the evidence would demonstrate Jackson's propensity for committing such crimes, his motive and intent. The evidence would also be used to bolster the credibility of the alleged victim and his family.

Jackson's attorneys said only one alleged past victim is scheduled to testify, although prosecutors claim at least seven prior sexual offenses took place.

"In place of the alleged victims, the prosecution intends to introduce the testimony of a collection of disgruntled former employees, paid tabloid informants, and other disreputable characters," Jackson's lawyers said in court documents.

Jackson, 46, has pleaded not guilty to charges of molestation, conspiracy and giving alcohol to his alleged victim at his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County.

In a separate motion, Jackson's lawyers also asked the judge to bar the public from all remaining pretrial hearings on what evidence will be allowed at the trial, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 31.

Melville has issued a gag order that bars both sides from speaking about the case publicly. The judge has also sealed virtually all documents, including some 14,000 pages of evidence filed by prosecutors.