New sex abuse claims made against Michael Jackson

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Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Michael Jackson rehearses for his 'This Is It' tour.
Michael Jackson rehearses for his 'This Is It' tour.
AEG Live

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man who claims he was abused by Michael Jackson more than 20 years ago hopes to file a late claim against the late pop singer's estate.

Lawyers filed court papers Monday on behalf of 36-year-old James Safechuck, who alleges the sexual abuse occurred after the two appeared in a 1980s Pepsi commercial when he was 10. He claims Jackson molested him about 100 times for four years.

"After the first incident (Safechuck) regularly began sleeping in (Jackson's) bed in his hotel room during the rest of the "Bad" tour in 1988," Safechuck's attorneys' court papers state.

Jackson "brainwashed" Safechuck into believing the acts were his fault and made Safechuck dress like him, according to court documents.

Jackson estate attorney Howard Weitzman said the claims should be rejected.

"This is a person that made his claim five years after Michael died, more than 20 years after the incidents supposedly happened and has given sworn testimony that Michael never did anything inappropriate to him," Weitzman said.

A hearing on Safechuck's petition is scheduled for Sept. 4 in Los Angeles.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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