Jackson's 1993 accuser may face grand jury

The prosecutor in Michael Jackson’s child molestation case is considering asking a boy who previously reached a multi-million dollar settlement with the entertainer to testify before a grand jury, according to a published report.

District Attorney Tom Sneddon, who is prosecuting Jackson, has confirmed a grand jury is being convened but has declined to say whether it involves the singer.

The California Santa Barbara News-Press said several witnesses who testified in the 1993 child-molestation investigation are expected to testify again. The newspaper earlier reported that potential grand jurors had received summonses to appear later this month.

Both the prosecutor and Jackson’s attorneys declined to comment, citing a gag order in the case.

No charges were filed in the earlier case, but Jackson reached a settlement with his accuser, who then refused to testify against him. The newspaper said Sneddon is considering calling the accuser to the stand, and could also call former employees of Jackson’s Neverland Ranch who testified before.

Jackson has pleaded innocent to seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. He’s currently free on bail of over £2 million.

Use of the grand jury to secure an indictment would sidestep a potentially lengthy preliminary hearing with public testimony.