Michael faces 7 counts of child molestation; 2 counts of intoxicating boy

A war of words followed California's District Attorney Tom Sneddon's formal filing of sexual charges against pop star Michael Jackson Thursday prompting the singer's lawyer to label the allegations nothing but a "shakedown" to get his client's money.

Jackson faces seven counts of child molestation charges and two additional counts of allegedly administering an intoxicating agent to a child.

It was like showtime with the curtain going up for Sneddon who, in a televised press conference, told reporters rumors that his case was weak against Jackson were "categorically...false."

Sneddon brushed off charges of why he was holding the trial in the mostly white area of Santa Maria saying that is simply the way the law works.

But, less than an hour later, Jackson's attorneys and allies held court with the press with Jackson's attorney, Mark Geragos saying, "I can tell you right now, categorically, that based upon this complaint that has been filed, that Michael Jackson is unequivocally and absolutely innocent of these charges.

"I can also tell you that contrary said during that (Sneddon's) press conference that the defense does know what the prosecution thinks they have in this case," Geragos said. "I can also tell you that beyond any shadow of a doubt I know that the investigators or so-called investigators do not know what we know."

"I believe that all the good people of Santa Barbara understand something and understand it greatly that there is no way you're going to divide people into an us and them, no way you're going to be dismissive of what trained investigators have spent an inordinate time investigating unless you have what we have here.

"What we have here is an intersection between a shakedown, somebody's looking for money, with somebody in investigation that's got an axe to grind; otherwise, there is no way that any self-respecting prosecutor would be going forward of the basis of this patent and unbelievably shakedown."

Geragos said he has been involved in this investigation since its inception and said "there is no truth to any of this...."

Article copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.