Pretrial Motions

By Sora Song

Remember when being charged with child molestation was a bad thing? In a spectacle that even hardened TV-news commentators described as a freak show, pop star MICHAEL JACKSON appeared in a Santa Maria, Calif., court to plead not guilty to seven counts of lewd acts with a child and two counts of giving intoxicants to a child. Outside, hundreds of fans--some of whom arrived on buses chartered by Jacko's camp--screamed their support while Jackson's bodyguards handed out invitations to the star's Neverland Ranch for postarraignment festivities. Later, Jackson climbed onto the roof of his black SUV, clapped his hands and danced a few steps. He must be saving the moonwalk for the preliminary hearing.