Ex-Jackson Bodyguard Told to Appear

The judge in the Michael Jackson child-molestation trial signed an order Thursday requesting that the pop star’s former bodyguard be transferred from a Las Vegas jail, where he’s being held on robbery and kidnapping charges, to Santa Barbara County to testify as a prosecution witness against Jackson.

Christopher Eric Carter, 25, has been held at the Clark County Detention Center for six weeks, charged with kidnapping, burglary, robbery and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.

Santa Barbara County Dist. Atty. Tom Sneddon wants Carter to testify about events he witnessed while serving as Jackson’s chief of security from August 2002 to August 2003. Carter told the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury last year that he saw Jackson and his young accuser sharing a soda can that was filled with wine during a flight from Miami to Santa Barbara.

Jackson is charged with four counts of child molestation, four counts of providing alcohol to a minor, attempted child molestation and conspiracy. If convicted, he faces 20 years in prison.

Carter is considered an important prosecution witness. He told the grand jury that Jackson approved all big decisions made at his Neverland ranch, a point that could help prosecutors prove that the pop star was involved in a conspiracy with his aides to keep the young accuser and his family on the ranch against their will.

Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville asked that Carter be transported by sheriff’s deputies in time for a court appearance in Santa Maria on April 4. After his testimony in the Jackson case, he would be returned to the Las Vegas jail.

Carter has been jailed since Feb. 19 as a suspect in the robberies of six Las Vegas businesses since October 2003, including a Radio Shack, a toy store and a fast-food restaurant, said Jose Montoya, Las Vegas police spokesman.

In addition, Montoya said, the FBI considers Carter a suspect in eight bank robberies. FBI spokesman David Schrom confirmed an ongoing investigation of Carter but declined to provide details. Lloyd Baker, Carter’s Las Vegas lawyer, did not return telephone calls.

In March 2004, Carter told grand jurors he met Jackson while he was doing security work at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He testified that he quit the job with Jackson voluntarily and was seeking another Las Vegas security position.

On Thursday, prosecutors presented a string of witnesses to testify about the collection of fingerprints from adult magazines that authorities found in the pop star’s bedroom during a search of the ranch in 2003.

Prosecutors said earlier that fingerprints on the magazines were linked to Jackson’s accuser and the boy’s brother. The fingerprints, prosecutors say, corroborate the brothers’ testimony that Jackson had showed them adult magazines.

Jackson, 46, appeared in better spirits than he did earlier in the week, when he was late to court and hobbled to his chair with the assistance of his brother and a security aide. The star stopped to chat with reporters on his way out of the courtroom while surrounded by security.

“I’d like to say hello to the people of Santa Maria, my friends and neighbors,” Jackson said.

The pop star also said that his spirits have been lifted by the presence of his family in the courtroom. Jackson’s brothers Marlon and Jackie sat in the front row of the courtroom Thursday. Tito and Jermaine Jackson have attended earlier sessions of the trial. The four brothers and Michael made up the Jackson Five.

“It’s great love, great bonding,” Jackson said of the support he received from his family.

The trial is scheduled to resume this morning with additional fingerprint testimony. Prosecutors disclosed that they intend to call comedian George Lopez as a witness on Monday.