Pop star Michael Jackson was tonight charged with child sex abuse after allegations that he molested a teenage cancer sufferer at his Neverland ranch.
Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon said Jackson faced nine charges.
He is accused of seven accounts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating liquor to a child for the purpose of committing a felony.
Mr Sneddon said the singer also faced "several special allegations".
The charges accuse Jackson of having "substantial sexual conduct" with the boy, who is identified in court papers only as "John Doe".
The charges come nearly a month after authorities raided Jackson 's estate and arrested him days later on suspicion of child molestation. He has been freed on $3 million bail.
Jackson has said the charges are "predicated on a big lie". His lawyer, Mark Geragos, has said the accusers are after the singer's money.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon agreed to delay Jackson 's arraignment to January 16th and return Jackson 's passport to allow him to travel to Britain from December 20th to January 6th.
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