Michael Jackson [ tickets ] was indicted on Wednesday (4/21) by a grand jury investigating allegations that the pop singer molested an underage boy, according to published reports.

The indictment means that prosecutors will not have to present evidence at a preliminary hearing to determine if the singer should stand trial on child-molestation charges, as the grand jury has determined that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.

Last December, prosecutors in Santa Barbara, CA, charged Jackson with multiple counts of child molestation and two additional felony counts for allegedly giving the victim an "intoxicating agent." Jackson pleaded not guilty to the charges during a January arraignment hearing.

The alleged victim appeared last year in a British documentary about Jackson's life. In the program, Jackson--who was shown holding hands with the boy--said that he and the boy sometimes slept in the same bedroom, but had never shared a bed.

Jackson pleaded not guilty to the charges during a court appearance earlier this year.

The grand jury spent 13 days deliberating whether there was sufficient evidence to bring charges against Jackson. More than a dozen witness reportedly testified before the jurors, including the alleged victim, members of his family, and his mother's attorneys, Larry Feldman and William Dickerman; Feldman represented another boy who accused Jackson of molestation in 1993 before reaching a multimillion-dollar, out-of-court settlement with the singer.

Details of the indictment were not available to the public at press time.

Jackson's lawyers issued a statement in response to the reports of the grand-jury indictment.

"If the grand jury issues an indictment, on Friday, April 30, 2004, Mr. Michael Jackson will appear in court in Santa Maria, CA, at which time he will enter a plea of NOT guilty to the charges. Mr. Jackson and his attorneys remind the public that an indictment is merely a formal 'accusation.' We also remind the public that Michael Jackson, like any other person accused of a crime, is 'presumed to be innocent.'"

The statement went on to say that Jackson and his attorneys are confident that the singer will be "fully exonerated" during a trial, and that the allegations contained in the indictment "will be shown to be patently false."

"In this case, Mr. Jackson is not just 'presumed' to be innocent but is in fact innocent," the statement continued. "Michael is looking forward to his day in court and wishes to thank the millions of fans throughout the world who continue to support him during this difficult period."