Grand jury indicts Michael Jackson

A 19-member grand jury investigating allegations that singer Michael Jackson molested a 12-year-old boy indicted him on Wednesday, moving the trial to a higher court.

The exact charges handed down were not immediately known.

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The grand jury's ruling came after 13 days of deliberating whether there was enough evidence against him to expedite the trial to Santa Barbara Superior Court, where there will be no preliminary hearings.

Jackson was originally arraigned in Santa Maria District Court in January, where he was charged with seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an "intoxicating agent".

The singer will plead not guilty at his arraignment on April 30 in Santa Barbara Superior Court, his attorneys said.

The singer's lawyers issued a statement saying they were confident Jackson would be exonerated.

"We also remind the public that Michael Jackson, like any other person accused of a crime, is presumed to be innocent," said the statement from Mark Geragos, Robert Sanger, Benjamin Brafman and Steve Cochran.

"Michael is looking forward to his day in court and wishes to thank the millions of fans throughout the world who continue to support him during this difficult period."