Michael Jackson Accuser Might Not Get His Day In Court

Another claim against Michael Jackson may have come too late. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff “expressed skepticism Tuesday about whether a man who alleges he was abused as a child by Michael Jackson can file a late claim against the singer’s estate,” according to My News LA. While the judge expressed skepticism, he said he would take it “under submission” and would make his ruling later on.

The accuser this time is James Safechuck, who worked with Jackson in 1987 for a Pepsi commercial. Safechuck alleges that he was sexually abused by Jackson for five years, until he was 10-years-old. He admits that he did not share how Jackson abused him until 2005, when he told his mother. And while he did not file a claim against Jackson then, Safechuck says that when Jackson asked him to be a personal witness at the star’s 2005 trial, Safechuck denied and cut all ties with Jackson.

So why now? Why has it taken Jackson’s accuser so long to make this claim against him? According to documents obtained by Radar Online, Safechuck didn’t remember the abuse until “he became concerned about having pedophilic urges when his son was born…He allegedly did not connect these anxieties to the alleged abuse… Rather, Safechuck claims when he learned about Robson’s lawsuit after May 1, 2013, he thought for the first time he might need help. Safechuck started meeting with a psychiatrist on May 20, 2013, and began discussing the alleged abuse during the treatment.”

Robson’s case refers to Wade Robson, the choreographer, who testified on Jackson’s behalf in 2005, but then changed his tune in May of 2013. Robson claimed he was also sexually abused by Jackson, and in court documents seen on TMZ, demanded that he receive “names and other identifying info of all boys who were under 18 when alleged sexual misconduct occurred,” and “any settlements involving molestation that have not yet been made public.” While Safechuck did not come forward then, it did force him into therapy, which lead to him filing his petition in May of this year.

So why does the judge express skepticism about this case’s timeliness? According to Jackson’s estates’ lawyers, “Safechuck had 60 days to file the claim after he began to understand what allegedly happened to him after seeing a May 2013 television interview with Wade Robson.”

Jackson’s lawyers have also claimed that “Safechuck’s petition must be denied because any claim would be barred by the one year death statute of limitations.” Jackson died over five years ago in the summer of 2009.

Whatever the judge decides, I think many still question the innocence of Michael Jackson, as it seems more victims keep coming forward.

[Photo Courtesy of Alan Light]