Jackson’s new attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr., requested that Jackson’s bail be reduced to no more than $435,000 after he took over the case in April.
Mesereau argued that Jackson’s bail should be lowered because of his charitable contributions, lack of criminal record and ties to Santa Barbara County, where the case was filed. He said there were no legal grounds for setting Jackson’s bail higher than normal just because of the singer’s wealth.
Prosecutors said Jackson was likely to flee the country if his bail was reduced.
Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen said $3 million was “roughly comparable to what he (Jackson) would spend in a weekend in Las Vegas,” and noted that the pop star has described himself as a billionaire.
AP-ES-06-14-04 1738EDT
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