Jackson: Steadfast friends

Los Angeles, Jan. 12 (AP): Michael Jackson’s family, friends and fans are planning a massive show of support when the pop superstar is arraigned on child molestation charges late this week.

Fans and family of Jackson, including his brother Jermaine, scheduled a news conference today at the family’s complex in Encino to announce their plans for the singer’s arraignment, which is scheduled for Friday in Santa Maria.

Jackson’s fan clubs plan to have cars and buses travel to the court house in northern Santa Barbara county from throughout southern California and even Las Vegas, said Angel Howansky, a freelance publicist who is helping coordinate the event. “We’ve had fans calling from out of state who are fly- ing in just for the arraignment,” said Howansky.

Also more than two dozen Jackson lawyers, accountants, bankers and managers will meet at the Beverly Hills Hotel today to discuss the singer’s business affairs, said his family friend Brian Oxman. Jackson, 45, is charged with seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts upon a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent.

He’s free on $3 million bail pending the arraignment.