Video: 'Michael Jackson - 60 Minutes interview (December 25, 2003)' (interview conducted on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, and aired on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2003)

(Thursday, December 18, 2003) — Pop superstar Michael Jackson was formally charged today with molesting a cancer-stricken boy who was invited to the singer’s Neverland Ranch.

Jackson was charged with molesting Gavin Arvizo, who was 13 years old at the time of the alleged abuse, at his Neverland Ranch estate in Los Olivos, California.

Jackson had previously been accused of child sexual abuse in 1993; he denied the allegations and settled the accuser’s civil lawsuit.

In 2003, the documentary Living with Michael Jackson showed Jackson holding hands with Arvizo and defending his practice of giving his bed to children, triggering an investigation.

The charges against the 45-year-old singer were filed nearly a month after local authorities raided his Neverland Ranch home. He was booked Nov. 20, 2003, on suspicion of multiple counts of child molestation and has been free on $3 million bond.

Jackson was indicted on four counts of molesting a minor, four counts of intoxicating a minor to molest him, one count of attempted child molestation, one count of conspiring to hold Gavin and his family captive, and conspiring to commit extortion and child abduction.

On April 21, 2004, a grand jury would indict Jackson on several additional related charges, including conspiracy involving child abduction, false imprisonment, and extortion.

Having pleaded not guilty, Jackson faced a sentence of up to eighteen years in prison if convicted at trial, which would begin on Jan. 31, 2005, with jury selection.

Jackson would be acquitted on all counts on June 13, 2005.