
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 24, 1993                   TAG: 9308240262
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES                                LENGTH: Short

MICHAEL JACKSON FACES CHILD-ABUSE ALLEGATION

Pop star Michael Jackson is the subject of a criminal investigation, police said Monday. A television station reported it involved a woman's allegation that he abused her child.

A private investigator who works for Jackson said the allegation was prompted after an unsuccessful extortion attempt.

"These people tried to extort Michael for a lot of money," Anthony Pellicano told KNBC-TV. "When we would not pay, a phone call was made to Child and Family Services, which started this investigation." He offered no details.

A report on WNBC-TV in New York said a woman filed a complaint accusing Jackson of abusing her child during a visit to Jackson's "Neverland" Ranch in Santa Barbara County and perhaps at his Century City condominium as well. Her name and the age and sex of her child were not revealed.

"I can confirm that the Los Angeles Police Department is conducting an investigation," police Cmdr. David Gascon said.

Police have contacted the district attorney's office about the case, district attorney spokeswoman Suzanne Childs said.

Jackson is in Thailand, starting a worldwide concert tour, and had made no comment Monday night.

by CNB