Michael Jackson Verdict

[sweet_chin_music]

What do you think?

Post what you think the verdict will be.

[HockeyMonkey]

Unfortunately I don't think much is going to happen to him.

The parents of these kids need to wake up and stop letting their kids spend the night with this wacko. They hear of all of the past allegations, yet they let their kids spend the night with him alone, in his room and then when something happens, they're shocked. Put a cat in a hamster cage, guess what? The hamster gets eaten.

[sweet_chin_music]

Yup.

I don't see any way that he won't be convicted of the alcohol charge. That's a slam dunk IMO. As far as the other charges, I don't think he'll be convicted....not because he isn't guilty (which, again, IMO I believe he is) but because of who he is. His defense team did a great job in providing some doubt, but it's the antics outside of the courtroom that will influence the jury. He'll walk and I have a feeling we won't see him living in the United States much longer.

If he does get convicted of only the alcohol charge, the judge better sure as hell give him close to the max (which I think is one year in a county jail) because if he walks with anything less, he'll have learned nothing.

[Chuckie]

I agree with Chin. I believe he is guilty. I also agree that he won't get convicted.

I don't think his antics outside the courtroom will affect the jury. They are not supposed to have any access to the footage or see him outside the courtroom.

[large]

A rich pervert, The entertainment business is full of 'em, and a family willing to prostitute their kid for money . . .

Who really gives a S***?

[sweet_chin_music]

Who really gives a S***?

Well, for starters...

-The entertainment industry. Having one of the most recognizable faces (no joke intended) be convicted of what he was charged with and being sent to prison may start a new trend of entertainers not being able to get away with "murder" (ok, not a poke at OJ or Robert Blake).

Many sociologists believe that had OJ been found guilty, future juries may have been a little more willing to convict stars. There are very few high profile cases involving stars that have ended up a conviction on the original charges. Most get pleaded down or end in an acquittal. We may not like it, but stars get prefrential treatment where ever they go. If Jackson is convicted, this will send shock waves through the industry.

-Fans of MJ. I'm not one...can't stand him or his music, but I do realize people like him. He was the biggest selling act of the 80s.

-Victims of sexual abuse. To see a high profile person be convicted may encourage others to come forward. What about the other victims of MJ who haven't been able to gain justice?

-Parents. No parent wants ANY child molester to go free.

-Media. Like them or not, stories like this pay the bills.

-California Justice System. They probably care if he's convicted or not.

For me, as a sociologist/criminologist this case is interesting because it gives me a chance to observe a high profile case and the strategies of the defense and prosecution when a star is involved compared to when an ordinary citizen is involved. For my senior thesis, I researched the OJ Simpson trial and that was the last major celebrity trial to receive this much attention (which means there is plenty of information available to research.)

Once again, there is a whole world happening outside of yours. Just because you're not interested doesn't mean that others feel the same way. That you even took the time to read the poll question and reply means you have some thoughts on the situation.

[Zen Curmudgeon]

>>snip<<. Many sociologists believe that had OJ been found guilty, future juries may have been a little more willing to convict stars. There are very few high profile cases involving stars that have ended up a conviction on the original charges. >>snip<<

Fatty Arbuckle, Robert Downey, Jr., Tom Sizemore, Tommy Chong, Chuck Berry, Martha Stewart, James Brown, Nick Nolte, Paul Reubens, David Crosby and I shared a refreshing chuckle over this comment.

Take Care -

ZC

[sweet_chin_music]

Fatty Arbuckle, Robert Downey, Jr., Tom Sizemore, Tommy Chong, Chuck Berry, Martha Stewart, James Brown, Nick Nolte, Paul Reubens, David Crosby and I shared a refreshing chuckle over this comment.

Take Care -

ZC

Granted, these stars (minus Arbuckle) were convicted however I need to point out a few things:

#1- Martha Stewart was the only true high profile case mentioned here,

#2- Fatty Arbuckle wasn't convicted. He was found innocent after three trials.

As for the others-

Robert Downey Jr- I can't seem to recall if a jury was ever used to convict him. I know he entered a plea at least once.

Tommy Chong- Pleaded guilty. No jury needed.

Tom Sizemore- Was found guilty by a jury, but I believed he was cleared of NINE other charges. He basically got a slap on the wrist.

Chuck Berry- Convicted by a jury.

James Brown. Convicted of attempted murder, yet only served two years.

Nick Nolte- Pleaded no contest to his DUI conviction.

Paul Reubens- Pleaded BOTH times he was facing trial.

David Crosby- Convicted of a drug offense in 1985. Pleaded guilty to a weapons charge in 2004.


So of the 10 people you mentioned 5 of them were convicted by a jury, 4 pleaded to reduced charges, 1 (Downey Jr) is unknown and 1 was found innocent. Most of these charges were not very major....I was speaking of high profile criminal cases which of all these listed, only Arbuckle and Stewart fit. BTW, Brown was found guilty of attempted murder...yet only served two years. Why? The jury recommended that sentence.

I still stand behind my statement that few celebrity cases involving juries end in a conviction on the original charges. In Tom Sizemore's case, he could have been found guilty of 12 charges, but was only found guilty on three. The difference between 3 convictions and 12 came out to almost 25 years of possible jail time.

Here are some other names for you to share a refreshing chuckle over: OJ Simpson, Ray Lewis, Robert Blake, Erroll Flynn, Snoop Dog. Four of the five were found not guilty of murder and Flynn was found innocent of rape of a child. Did they do it? For everyone other than Simpson, only their creator knows for sure. Simpson got the biggest break in the world when he walked out of that courthouse.

[large]

Shows to go you, as with politics, it is with justice . . Follow the money . . . Justice is balanced by the amount of dollars you can put up for a defense . . . The rich spend very little time in jail no matter the crime . .

[Chuckie]

Was anyone really surprised with the outcome?

[Zen Curmudgeon]

Jon Stewart's Daily Show analyzes the acquittal as a lack of talent in southern California prosecutors. After all, the really knowledgeable guys are technical advisers for the 4 Law and Order and 3 CSI programs. :)

Take Care -

ZC

[Amberthebrat]

Why is it that California jurys can't seem to convect people with money or celebraty's. I am ashamed to live in a socity that will let some child molester off, because he's got cash. Even if he is truely innocent, do you remember pictures of him holding his tiny child out of a window??? That's child endangerment and abuse. They should torture then burn him at the steak.

Some people can not have children and would be wonderful parents and then theres soap scum like that. I think everyone should boycott his music, entertainment, and everything that involves him.

[Steve]

Apparently I am the only one that got it right in the poll, but of course, I voted today. :)

It is a darn shame that he was aquitted of everything. I thought he practically admitted to allowing them to drink alchohol. *shrug*