SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- A top aide to entertainer Michael Jackson appeared Thursday before the Santa Barbara County grand jury considering child molestation evidence against the singer.
Norma Staikos, vice president of Jackson's company MJJ, is considered a key witness against him in the investigation into a teenage boy's claim that the 35-year-old entertainer fondled and performed oral sex on him.
Staikos has been silent publicly about the allegations while countless other past and present employees have talked with print and TV tabloids for steep fees. There were rumors she went into hiding after the criminal investigation became public last August.
Jackson's former executive secretary, Orietta Murdoch, told the TV show 'Hard Copy' last month that Staikos used to refer to the singer's young companions as 'his little boyfriends' and that Staikos warned her not to leave her son alone with Jackson.
Murdoch said Staikos and Jackson filled each other's needs: Staikos's desire for power and Jackson's need for a 'mother figure.'
Staikos's testimony for the 19-member grand jury was held in secret.
The panel was expected after Thursday's proceedings to take a two- week break, then resume with testimony from about 10 more witnesses. They are charged with deciding whether there is enough evidence against Jackson to warrant criminal charges.
It was not immediately clear whether the pop star's accuser would go before the grand jury. His attorney, Larry R. Feldman, was not immediately available Thursday to comment.
Feldman has said his client, now 14, remains willing to testify against Jackson in any criminal proceedings despite the multimillion- dollar settlement announced Jan. 25 in the boy's lawsuit against him.
Another criminal investigation is under way in Los Angeles but no charges have been filed there. Los Angeles prosecutors Lauren Weis and William Hodgman have been attending the Santa Barbara proceedings, which began Wednesday.
