'Homecoming' For Jackson

Friends and relatives of Michael Jackson descended on his Neverland Ranch on Saturday to show their support for the entertainer, who is fighting child molestation charges.

The private gathering behind the gates of the sprawling estate was described as a homecoming for Jackson, who has kept a low profile in Las Vegas and undisclosed locations since surrendering to authorities on Nov. 20 and being released on $3 million bail.

More than 150 cars entered the ranch's main gate, and uninvited supporters staking out the entrance ran up to one black Mercedes carrying two people who appeared to be Jackson's parents.

One sign pasted on a fan's car read: "Michael is innocent! Leave him alone!"

One of the invited guests was fan Sheree Wilkins, who said she was contacted Thursday by an assistant to Katherine Jackson, the pop star's mother.

"That's Michael's style. When he wants to say thanks, he does it big and invites the people who care about him," said Wilkins, 32, of Inglewood, who said she has visited the Neverland compound several times before.

Jackson spokesman Stuart Backerman had said the crowd would include some celebrities but he had no names from the guest list. He said as many as 600 people could attend.

Jackson was charged Thursday with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent. He maintains his innocence.

Jackson was looking forward to thanking people who have stood by him, said Brian Oxman, a lawyer and Jackson friend who planned to attend Saturday's gathering.

"It's for family and friends to say thank you from Michael to people he loves and who have supported him," Oxman said. "It's not a party. It's not a pep rally. It's not hoopla or celebration."

Loyola University law professor Laurie Levenson said the idea of a holiday gathering for Jackson family and friends could aid the entertainer's reputation.

"The goal here is to look like 'The Waltons,' to make it look like he has a warm family and group of supporters," Levenson said.

With legal proceedings on hold until Jackson's arraignment on Jan. 16, legal experts said the pop star should try to fade out of the headlines.

Jackson soon will travel to England to fulfill unspecified contractual obligations. There have been reports he will be promoting his latest CD, "Number Ones," which is doing better in the United Kingdom than it is in the United States.

Mark Beaumont, a staff writer at music magazine NME, said the allegations against Jackson have split his fans.

"There are people devoted to Michael Jackson who put their fingers in their ears and refuse to listen to the allegations and then there are people who like his music but think he's becoming increasingly suspicious," he said.

Beaumont doesn't expect a rapturous welcome for Jackson if he goes ahead with his visit to England.

"There will always be the hardcore fans but that is a relatively small group now and people are becoming more suspicious," he said. "I think this is going to be the final nail in the coffin."

In Santa Barbara County, District Attorney Tom Sneddon expressed regret Friday for criticizing Los Angeles child welfare authorities during the news conference where he announced the charges against Jackson.

In February, those authorities had interviewed Jackson's accuser and his family, who told them no molestation had occurred. The Los Angeles County case was then closed.

Sneddon told the Santa Barbara News-Press that his comments were triggered by the authorities' handling of a lesser-known child endangerment case he personally plans to prosecute - not by the Jackson matter.

The case involves a girl who fell into a coma after allegedly being overmedicated by her foster mother and while under the supervision of the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services.

"I should have just shut up," Sneddon said.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos has said the molestation charges against Jackson are being driven by "money and revenge." Geragos vowed to derail the alleged victim's credibility and fight what he called a prosecutor's vendetta.

For Sneddon, whose similar 1993 case against the pop singer evaporated when the accuser reportedly accepted millions in settlement money, the charges filed Thursday represent a second chance to convict the fading pop star before the prosecutor begins his planned retirement.

Unlike the 1993 case, Sneddon says, this time he has a cooperative witness who isn't interested in a piece of Jackson's fortune.