D.A. in Jackson Case Did Not Violate Gag Order, Judge Rules
The Santa Barbara County district attorney did not violate a gag order in the Michael Jackson case when he spoke last month at a prosecutors conference in Canada, a judge ruled Monday.
According to a Canadian newspaper, Dist. Atty. Tom Sneddon said he sent warning letters to potential witnesses in the Jackson child molestation case to keep them from talking to the media.
However, the veteran prosecutor never said any such thing, Deputy Dist. Atty. Gordon Auchincloss argued in court Monday. Auchincloss said his boss’ references to the Jackson case were “at the most oblique.” Any letters sent were intended only to let potential witnesses know about the gag order imposed by Santa Barbara Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville.
Over defense objections, Melville agreed that the district attorney had not breached the order. However, he cautioned attorneys for both sides to watch what they say outside court.
Melville also found that Deputy Dist. Atty. Ronald Zonen, another prosecutor in the case, had acted properly in trying to explain Sneddon’s Vancouver remarks to a reporter for the Santa Barbara News-Press.
The next pretrial hearing is set for Sept. 16. Jackson’s trial on charges of child molestation and conspiracy is to start Jan. 31.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
