Posted Nov 13th 2006 4:45PM by TMZ Staff
Janet Arvizo, the welfare mom who instigated the mother of all child molestation trials, pled no contest to a welfare fraud charge in Los Angeles today. She will not have to appear in court for sentencing next April if she completes 150 hours of community service and pays $8,600 in restitution. During Jackson's trial, Arvizo invoked the Fifth regarding welfare fraud.
In June, 2005, moonwalker and baby-dangler Jackson was acquitted of all charges of child molestation and intoxication of a minor -- Arvizo's then 13-year-old son. Jacko then abandoned Neverland for Bahrain.
Time for some Jesus Juice!
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Wacky & Weird
Tags: gavin arvizo, GavinArvizo, jackson molestation trial, JacksonMolestationTrial, janet arvizo, JanetArvizo, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Jun 21st 2006 3:51PM by TMZ Staff
Janet Arvizo pled not guilty in an L.A. court Wednesday to charges of welfare fraud and perjury.
Arvizo, the mother of the boy who accused Michael Jackson of sexual molestation in 2003, looked happy as she left court today despite all the bad press, telling TMZ, "Today is a new day!"
Arvizo's lawyer said Janet hopes to resolve the welfare fraud charges without a trial.
As Arvizo left the courthouse after her arraignment, she told TMZ she was on her way to see her husband, United States Army Major Jay Jackson, who was returning from serving in Iraq today.
Arvizo is charged with fraudulently obtaining roughly $8,000 in welfare payments by allegedly lying about her financial situation. She invoked her Fifth Amendment right under oath during the Jackson trial when asked about why she took welfare when she had more than $30,000 in her bank account.
Arvizo is due back in court August 7th.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Tags: accuser's mother, Accuser'sMother, arraignment, court, gavin arvizo, GavinArvizo, hearing, janet arviso, janet arvizo, JanetArviso, JanetArvizo, Michael jackson, MichaelJackson, music, not-guilty
