Former Jackson defender now says singer abused him

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A choreographer and television personality who was a key witness in Michael Jackson's successful defense against child molestation charges is seeking permission to file a claim against the singer's estate alleging the pop superstar sexually abused him as a child, court records and an attorney said.

Wade Robson was abused by Jackson during a seven-year period, the choreographer's attorney, Henry Gradstein, wrote in a statement Wednesday. The attorney said Robson, 30, suffered a breakdown last year but has not stated how much his client is seeking to recoup from Jackson's estate if a judge permits him to pursue his abuse allegations.

Details on Robson's accusations were filed under seal.

The molestation allegations have been fiercely denied by an attorney for Jackson's estate and the singer's criminal defense attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr.

"Mr. Robson was one of my strongest witnesses in Michael Jackson's criminal trial," Mesereau said. "I called him to the stand at the beginning of the defense case and he was adamant that he had never been improperly touched or molested. This makes no sense."

Robson was the first defense witness during the 2005 trial that ended with Jackson's acquittal on molestation charges. He also spoke favorably about Jackson after the singer's death in June 2009.

"Last year, on a career trajectory that was off the charts, (Robson) collapsed under the stress and sexual trauma of what had happened to him for seven years as a child," Gradstein wrote in a statement that referred to Jackson as a sexual predator.

"There are significant legal issues involved in this case that have the potential to impact lives beyond just our client," he wrote.

Gradstein said he could not discuss specifics of the case, but he cited Robson's recent breakdown as the choreographer's reason for reversing his previous statements about Jackson. "As a result, he started intensive treatment which ultimately led to his ability to come forward," Gradstein said.

Robson, an Australian-born choreographer, has appeared on the Fox series "So You Think You Can Dance" and worked with Britney Spears and other stars.

"Mr. Robson's claim is outrageous and pathetic," Jackson estate attorney Howard Weitzman wrote in a statement. "This is a young man who has testified at least twice under oath over the past 20 years and said in numerous interviews that Michael Jackson never did anything inappropriate to him or with him. Now, nearly four years after Michael has passed this sad and less than credible claim has been made. We are confident that the court will see this for what it is."

Gradstein filed a motion seeking permission to file a late creditor's claim against Jackson's estate on May 1, nearly four years after the singer's death, court records show. Most of the documents are sealed pending a June court hearing, but a summary of the documents states the choreographer includes a declaration from a psychiatrist and an "Unfiled Complaint for Childhood Sexual Abuse."

The period for filing claims against Jackson's estate has long since passed, but a California civil statute allows victims of abuse to file a lawsuit within three years of discovering "that psychological injury or illness ... was caused by the sexual abuse."

The judge overseeing Jackson's massive probate case will have to determine whether Robson's claim can go forward.

Gradstein's statement did not address any specifics about when or where Jackson's alleged molestation occurred, but the choreographer testified extensively in 2005 about the time he spent with Jackson.

"Wade Robson, in addition to being one of the most talented people on the planet, is one of the kindest, most gentle, decent and introspective human beings one will ever meet. He is the loving father of a young son and happily married," Gradstein wrote in a statement first obtained by celebrity website TMZ.

His claim was filed nearly eight years to the day after Robson testified Jackson never inappropriately touched him. He was 22 at the time he testified, telling jurors in Jackson's criminal case that he met Jackson when he was 5 years old and had spent the night at Jackson's Neverland Ranch more than 20 times, sleeping in the singer's bedroom on most visits.

During the trial, Robson bristled at testimony by other witnesses that they had seen Jackson molest him. "I'm very mad about it," he told jurors. "It's not true and they put my name through the dirt. I'm really not happy about it."

The claims come as Jackson's mother, who supported her son throughout the molestation trial in Santa Maria, Calif., is in a Los Angeles courtroom pursuing a negligent hiring case against the promoter of Jackson's planned series of comeback concerts.

Katherine Jackson has not addressed Robson's allegations, and her attorney, Perry Sander Jr., said Mesereau was the appropriate person to comment on the molestation claims.

Marvin S. Putnam, an attorney for concert promoter AEG Live LLC, said he wasn't familiar with the specifics of Robson's claims but doubted it would come up in the civil trial filed by Jackson's mother. "I don't see how it has anything to do with our case," he said.

___

AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch contributed to this report.

___

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

20.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Divorce docs: Changes worried metal singer's wife

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Divorce documents show the lead singer of heavy metal band As I Lay Dying and the wife he allegedly tried to hire a hit man to kill had a mostly amicable split, and she expressed no fears for her safety.

But Meggan Lambesis, wife of Tim Lambesis, said in the court papers obtained by The Associated Press that recent changes in his behavior had her worried about his ability to care for their three adopted children.

Law enforcement officials said they arrested 32-year-old Tim Lambesis after he tried to hire an undercover detective he believed was a hit man. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, two days after he was taken into custody at a store in Oceanside.

Meggan Lambesis said her estranged husband, who is covered in tattoos and known for his growling voice, had become "obsessed with bodybuilding" and was distracted while with the children, often texting or talking on the phone. She noted he had fallen asleep while watching them at the beach and said they need a "stable parent" to help them adjust to their new life.

The couple adopted the children — ages 4, 8 and 10 — from Ethiopia, and Tim Lambesis continued to see them for about 10 hours a week when he was not on tour, even though the couple was no longer living together, according to court documents.

She said he tours six months a year and had traveled across the country twice in one year to visit a girlfriend. She said he also had spent thousands of dollars on tattoos. Both had agreed to private mediation to discuss the children's custody.

Tim Lambesis' comments about his Grammy-nominated band's latest album, "Awakened," indicate he may have been struggling.

The band's website says the album — released the same month his wife filed for divorce — is a "far darker, more pessimistic beast" than previous albums.

"On this record, I wasn't purposefully trying to be negative, but I think sometimes we have to be honest with some of the darker and more difficult times of our lives to get back to that positivity," Lambesis is quoted as saying. "While the lyrics do perhaps seem like a dark window into my soul, they're written that way specifically because I want to move on and transcend those difficult moments in life."

Authorities said a task force from several law enforcement agencies launched an investigation that led to the arrest late Tuesday. The department would give no further details.

A man who answered the phone at a number listed in the singer's name in Del Mar said the family was not commenting at this time, and Lambesis' attorney could not be reached for comment.

As I Lay Dying formed in San Diego in 2000 and has released six albums, including 2007's "An Ocean Between Us," which reached No. 8 on Billboard's charts. A single from the album, "Nothing Left," was nominated for a Grammy for top metal performance.

The band, which plays in an aggressive style that features metal guitar riffs at the furious pace of hardcore punk, was scheduled to tour the country this summer.

Its record label, Metal Blade, said in a message posted to the band's fans that "there are many unanswered questions, and the situation will become clearer in the coming days and weeks."

"We'll keep you informed as best we can," the message said. "Our thoughts right now are with Tim, his family, and with everyone else affected by this terrible situation."

___

AP Music Writer Chris Talbott in Nashville, Tenn., contributed to this report.

20.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-UK police officer jailed over leaks to tabloid

LONDON (AP) — A former British police sergeant has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for trying to sell details about a celebrity couple's daughter and other confidential information to The Sun newspaper.

James Bowers was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to misconduct in public office. Prosecutors said he passed information about three incidents — one involving the 2-year-old daughter of model Katie Price and singer Peter Andre — to the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid.

The 30-year-old was arrested as part of Operation Elveden, an investigation into police corruption.

The inquiry is running alongside investigations into phone and computer hacking sparked by revelations that reporters at Murdoch's now-shuttered News of the World tabloid regularly intercepted voicemails.

About 20 people have been charged in the scandal, including journalists, police officers and former Murdoch executives.

20.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

British director Bryan Forbes dies at age 86

LONDON (AP) — British film director Bryan Forbes, whose work includes the original 1970s horror classic "The Stepford Wives," has died at age 86 after a long illness, a family spokesman said Wednesday.

Matthew D'Ancona said Forbes died surrounded by his family at his home in Surrey.

Forbes was born John Theobald Clarke in 1926 in London. He began his film career as an actor, playing a number of supporting roles in British films in the 1940s and 1950s, but he soon found more success in screenwriting, and later directing.

He made his debut as director in "Whistle Down the Wind," the 1961 movie about children who come across an escaped convict and mistake him for Jesus.

Forbes went on to make films such as "King Rat," a tale of survival in a prisoner-of-war camp, and "The Stepford Wives," a thriller about sinisterly perfect suburban housewives.

He was screenwriter for "Chaplin," the 1992 biopic of Charlie Chaplin starring Robert Downey Jr., and also wrote several novels. His latest book, "The Soldier's Story," was published last year.

Forbes was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004 for services to the arts.

He is survived by his wife, the actress Nanette Newman, and two daughters.

20.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bertolucci to head Venice Film Festival jury

MILAN (AP) — The Venice Film Festival has announced that Oscar-winning director Bernardo Bertolucci will chair the jury for the 70th Venice Film Festival.

Bertolucci, 73, headed the jury previously in 1983, when the Golden Lion went to Jean-Luc Godard's "First Name: Carmen," and he has premiered numerous films at the festival, starting with "The Grim Reaper" in 1962 and more recently "The Dreamers," in 2003.

Bertolucci's 1987 film "The Last Emperor" won nine Oscars. The festival says it was the first and only Italian film to win the Academy Award for best director.

Bertolucci said in a statement Thursday that the festival will give him the opportunity to discover "the most mysterious niches of filmmaking in the most mysterious countries of the world."

The festival will be held Aug. 28-Sept. 7.

20.50 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Charlie Brown' actor to be sentenced for stalking

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The man who was the voice of Charlie Brown in several "Peanuts" television shows faces possible prison time for stalking and threatening his former girlfriend and a plastic surgeon who had given her a breast enhancement.

Peter Robbins is scheduled to appear in San Diego Superior Court on Wednesday for sentencing. He pleaded guilty last month.

Prosecutors say the 56-year-old called his former girlfriend up to 37 times in a 24-hour period, saying he would kill her and her son if she did not give back his dog and car. They say Robbins repeatedly called the plastic surgeon to demand a refund for the breast enhancement.

The Oceanside resident is best known for his portrayal of Charlie Brown on the TV special "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

20.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Singer arrested in Calif. murder-for-hire sting

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (AP) — The lead singer of Grammy-nominated heavy metal band As I Lay Dying was arrested Tuesday in Southern California as authorities said he tried to hire an undercover detective to kill his estranged wife.

Tim Lambesis, 32, was arrested at a retail business in Oceanside, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

The statement said detectives received information Thursday that Lambesis had solicited someone to kill his wife, who lives in nearby Encinitas. A task force from several law enforcement agencies quickly launched an investigation that led to the arrest.

The department would give no further details on the investigation.

As I Lay Dying formed in San Diego in 2000 and has released six albums including 2007's "An Ocean Between Us," which reached No. 8 on Billboard's charts. A track from the album was nominated for a Grammy for top metal performance.

It was not clear whether Lambesis had hired an attorney, and a phone message seeking comment left at a number listed in his name was not immediately returned.

According to its website, the band is scheduled to tour the country with several other metal acts starting later this month.

20.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

PepsiCo agrees to meet with Till family, Sharpton

NEW YORK (AP) — PepsiCo Inc. officials will meet Wednesday with members of Emmett Till's family and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Sharpton continued to press for the meeting last week after the company's partnerships with Lil Wayne and Tyler, the Creator, of Odd Future to promote Mountain Dew sparked controversies.

PepsiCo and Lil Wayne have since parted over creative differences after the rapper's offensive lyrics related to the civil rights icon Till. The company also pulled a commercial directed by Tyler that angered anti-violence and civil rights advocates.

The meeting to be held at PepisCo headquarters in Purchase comes as an outcry over offensive lyrics increases. Reebok recently ended its partnership with Rick Ross for similar reasons.

Sharpton said last week that corporations have a civic responsibility when deciding who they partner with.

20.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

NYC school cancels workshop by John Galliano

NEW YORK (AP) — Parsons The New School of Design in New York City has canceled a four-day workshop by the controversial fashion designer John Galliano.

Galliano was creative director at Christian Dior when he was fired in 2011 for an anti-Semitic rant. He's currently involved in a lawsuit against his former employer.

The school said in a statement that his appearance was to include "a candid discussion about the connection between his professional work and his actions in the world at large." It said it canceled the workshop after the two sides couldn't reach consensus on the conditions of the conversation.

A spokesman for Galliano didn't immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the designer began a temporary artist residency at the studio of Oscar de la Renta in New York.

20.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Disney drops bid to trademark Day of Dead name

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Disney Enterprises has dropped an effort to trademark "Dia de los Muertos," the name of the traditional "Day of the Dead" holiday celebrated by millions in Mexico and the U.S.

The Orange County Register (http://bit.ly/ZFGuq5 ) says the company announced Tuesday it's abandoning the effort just a week after submitting its request to U.S. officials. The request sparked criticism that Disney was culturally insensitive.

Disney hoped to secure name rights for merchandise as it partners with Pixar to create an animated movie inspired by the holiday.

A studio statement says the filing was withdrawn because the movie name has changed.

Two years ago, Disney tried to trademark the name "SEAL Team 6" days after the Navy team killed Osama bin Laden. After fierce criticism, Disney withdrew the application.

___

Information from: The Orange County Register, http://www.ocregister.com

20.50 | 0 komentar | Read More