A day after his arrest on suspicion of molesting a young boy, Michael Jackson is in seclusion as prosecutors prepare charges and pressure mounts on authorities to take away his three children.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon, a man portrayed in the press as Jackson's longtime nemesis, said in a statement on Friday that he would not file formal charges against the moon-walking entertainer until after Thanksgiving.
Jackson - who was whisked from Las Vegas to California and back just long enough to surrender to police, hand in his passport and post $3 million bail - was due in court for an arraignment on January 9th.
The self-proclaimed "King of Pop" has not spoken publicly since some 60 police officers stormed his ranch on Tuesday looking for evidence to substantiate the allegations of an unidentified young boy. Jackson said in a statement the allegations were outrageous lies and predicted he would be exonerated.
"Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons," Jackson said, according to a written statement released by his publicist. "The truth will win this marathon in court."
Jackson, who was seen shaking hands with well-wishers as his car was driven slowly through the streets of Las Vegas on Thursday night, is believed holed up in a hotel and spa outside the resort city, where he was making a music video for his latest album.
A general manager at the hotel said he could not comment on the performer's whereabouts.
Meanwhile high-profile Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred said she would call on the Santa Barbara Department of Social Services to take away Jackson's three young children in light of the allegations.
A spokesman for that agency declined to say if Jackson, who lives at his Neverland Valley Ranch in the hills above Santa Barbara, was being investigated.
Jackson's arrest has riveted much of the nation and produced stunning pictures of one of the world's best-known pop stars in handcuffs.