Winona Ryder - Winona's Man To Represent Jackson

The attorney who helped WINONA RYDER fight shoplifting charges has been hired to represent MICHAEL JACKSON as he faces a new child molestation scandal.

Defence lawyer MARK GERRAGOS, who is currently representing convicted wife killer SCOTT PETERSON in California, will lead Jacko's defence as he fights charges that are due to be brought against him following new child molestation claims made by a 12-year-old Los Angeles boy.

Jackson has yet to turn himself over to the authorities, but his legal team are negotiating with police in Santa Barbara County, where he lives, and Las Vegas, where he has been for the past week, to arrange an arrest following the issuing of a warrant this morning (19NOV03).

It is not known exactly where Jackson and his three children are, but his bother JERMAINE reportedly arrived in Las Vegas this morning (19NOV02) with a large security team.

Once Jackson is arrested, he will be placed on $3 million (GBP1.9 million) bail and asked to surrender his passport. Meanwhile, Santa Barbara County District Attorney THOMAS SNEDDON is confident the pop star will face multiple charges of child molestation following a 15-hour investigation at his NEVERLAND RANCH home yesterday (18NOV03).