New Document May Back Jackson Defense

Dec. 9 -- Authorities in Los Angeles cleared Michael Jackson months ago of sexual molestation allegations involving the same boy making claims against the singer in a Santa Barbara criminal case, according to a confidential document.

The internal government memo, obtained by The Smoking Gun Web site (www.thesmokinggun.com), says Los Angeles police and child welfare officials concluded that sexual abuse allegations against Jackson were "unfounded" months before the pop star was booked on molestation charges in Santa Barbara on Nov. 20.

The memo, which followed a confidential investigation by Los Angeles police and child welfare officials, said the minor "denied any form of sexual abuse" and said that he never "slept in the same bed as the entertainer."

The document said the boy had denied the allegations when questioned by a social worker assigned to the Sensitive Case Unit of Los Angeles' Department of Children and Family Services back in February of this year.

This evening, Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon and Sheriff Jim Anderson dismissed suggestions that the document had any bearing on the current accusations against Jackson. In a joint statement, Sneddon and Anderson said they were aware of the Los Angeles interviews before they decided to pursue a criminal case against the pop star.

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"Our investigators were aware of the contents of the interviews prior to seeking the search warrants and arrest warrant for Mr. Jackson," the statement said. "The report and its contents, along with the totality of the investigation and the circumstances and the timing under which the statements were given, were provided to the judge at the time that the search and arrest warrants were issued. Given what we know, we do not consider the DCFS statement a significant factor."

‘A Big Lie’

Jackson, 45, was arrested in Santa Barbara County on multiple counts of child molestation after the 14-year-old boy alleged the singer sexually abused him during visits to Jackson's Neverland Ranch. The boy was 12 at the time of the alleged abuse. Jackson has labeled the allegations "a big lie."