JACKSON TRIAL Prosecution says singer's bad finances led to videotape

The district attorney also tried to undo damage from Debbie Rowe's testimony.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Michael Jackson had a deteriorating financial condition for years that left him with just $38,000 in cash when he had to cope with an avalanche of bad publicity, jurors at the star's molestation trial heard Tuesday.
John Duross O'Bryan, a forensic accountant testifying as an expert witness for the prosecution, painted a grim picture of Jackson's finances, estimating that from 1999 to early 2003 the pop singer spent $20 million to $30 million a year more than was coming into his accounts.
The prosecution maintains that financial pressures led the Jackson camp to conspire to control the family of the boy who has accused Jackson of molestation.
O'Bryan's testimony came after the lead investigator took the stand to impeach last week's testimony by Debbie Rowe, who glowingly praised Jackson, her ex-husband. Sgt. Steve Robel, of the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department, said the woman had described the singer as a "sociopath" who called his children "his possessions."
The prosecution is trying to tie up loose ends in the last days of presenting its case, and one of those untamed threads is Rowe, the mother of two of Jackson's children. Rowe testified last week as a prosecution witness, but her testimonial of Jackson was so glowing that she seemed to be a defense proponent.
District Attorney Thomas Sneddon had said he planned to finish presenting the prosecution case Tuesday, although he missed his self-imposed goal. Near the end of the day, the prosecution called Rudy Provencio, who is believed to be the last witness in the state's case.
Finances
Provencio, who will continue on the stand Wednesday, is an associate of Marc Schaffel, an unindicted co-conspirator and one of Jackson's aides who has been mentioned as a key player.
Jackson's finances have been a sore point throughout the trial. On days devoted to motions, the prosecution and the defense have sparred over what to allow the jurors to hear.
O'Bryan was given access to reports by Jackson's consultants from 1999 to Feb. 13, 2003. On Feb. 6, 2003, a British documentary was broadcast in the United States showing Jackson holding hands with the boy who later accused the pop star of molestation. Jackson on that video said he slept with children but in a nonsexual manner.
O'Bryan said Jackson owed vendors $10.5 million and had just $38,000 in the bank that month.
The documentary set off a flurry of calls among Jackson aides who launched their own campaign to protect the global singing star, whose sales have been sliding. The prosecution alleges that Jackson conspired with his aides to pressure the accuser and his family to participate in a video praising the star so that his career would be protected.
Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting a 13-year-old boy in early 2003 and with giving him alcohol to aid in the commission of a felony. Jackson also is accused of conspiring with aides to control the accuser and his family.
Three investigators Tuesday morning described records showing hundreds of calls among Jackson aides, who are unindicted co-conspirators. The phones were paid through Jackson's production companies.
On Monday, jurors also heard testimony about the calls that the prosecution is hoping shows the extent of the conspiracy to control the family. The defense has stressed for two days that none of the records shows that Jackson ever was a party to using any of the phones that were carried by his personal assistant, close aides and bodyguards.