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MOM OF MIJAC ACCUSER HEADED TO TRIAL: Woman will address welfare fraud charges in a courtroom beginning Aug. 7.
*The mother of the boy who accused Michael Jackson of child molestation will stand trial for welfare fraud on Aug. 7. But, the date could be postponed, according to the judge.
Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson said the trial date would be "one of 30," meaning it could start within 30 days.
The 37-year-old woman, whose name by marriage is Janet Jackson, is accused of accepting $8,000 in fraudulently obtained assistance and committing perjury four times on welfare applications. She invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions about those issues during Jackson’s child molestation trial last year.
She is also accused of hiding the fact that she received a huge financial settlement in a civil suit against J.C. Penney before she filed for welfare.
"We're scheduled to go to trial unless she makes restitution," said district attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison.
The woman’s lawyer, Patricia Hattersley, said outside court she hopes the case can be settled without a trial.
"We are open to discussions," Hattersley said. "Her position is she never misrepresented anything intentionally.".jpg)
