Michael Jackson has been indicted by a grand jury investigating child molestation allegations against the pop star after three weeks of closed witness testimony, according to news reports.

　　Several newspapers and television networks cited unidentified sources saying the Santa Barbara County grand jury had indicted Jackson. None of the reports included details about the indictment, and there was no official confirmation or announcement.

　　Jackson's legal team issued a statement on Wednesday saying the star would plead innocent during his scheduled April 30 arraignment.

　　The star's spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, added that "nothing has been issued from the court which indicates that there is an indictment." She said she had spoken with Jackson on Wednesday and that "he is out and about."

　　Mark Geragos, Jackson's attorney refused to answer questions.

　　The closed-door grand jury proceedings determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.

　　Four months ago, county prosecutors charged Jackson with seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. Jackson pleaded innocent in January and has been free on $3 million bail.

　　Transcripts of the secret grand jury proceeding will be provided to Jackson's defense team within the next 10 days. The transcripts will then be made public 10 days after that unless Jackson's attorneys can convince a judge doing so would prejudice a future jury pool.

　　The grand jury has spent the last three weeks hearing from witnesses, including a 14-year-old boy who claims the pop superstar sexually abused him.

　　On Wednesday, grand jurors were whisked from the proceedings to the downtown Santa Barbara courthouse in vans with darkened windows. There they met with Superior Court Judge Clifford Anderson.

　　Meanwhile, conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges were being considered against several of Jackson's associates for allegedly threatening the family of the boy who has accused him of child molestation, the Los Angeles Times reported.

　　Attorney Joseph Tacopina said there had been speculation that two of his clients, Vincent Amen and Frank Tyson, would either be indicted by the grand jury or charged separately with alleged intimidation of witnesses.

　　He denied the allegations and said the former Jackson employees would not appear before the grand jury.

　　The attorney said the accusations came from the boy's mother and were "patently false."

　　Tellem said the district attorney would have no comment because of a gag order.

　　(The Associated Press)