Prosecution seeks to raise other Jackson sex allegations

Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson child molestation case asked the trial judge today to schedule a hearing as early as next week on whether to admit evidence of alleged prior sexual offences by Jackson.

Jackson has never been convicted of a prior sexual offense but prosecutors want to present witnesses they believe will show that the current case is part of a pattern.

On Thursday, a witness mentioned Jordy Chandler who made molestation allegations against Jackson in 1993 and received a multimillion-dollar civil settlement.

District Attorney Tom Sneddon asked Judge Rodney Melville that a hearing on the issue be held on March 25 or 28.

Sneddon said that would be soon after prosecutors wrap up the section of their case alleging that Jackson molested his accuser at the pop star’s Neverland ranch in 2003.

The next stage of the prosecution case will focus on allegations that the singer held the alleged victim and his family captive to get them to rebut a February 2003 TV documentary in which Jackson appeared with the then-13-year-old boy and said he allowed children to sleep in his bed, although he described it as innocent.

There was no immediate ruling on the hearing date.

Only motions were being heard in the Santa Maria court today, and Jackson had been told he did not have to attend.

One of his lawyers said the singer was still in pain from a back injury and would rest through the weekend.

Jackson, 46, is charged with molestation, giving the boy alcohol and conspiring to hold the family captive.