Pop star Michael Jackson has turned himself in to authorities in Santa Barbara, in the U.S. state of California to face charges that he committed multiple acts of child molestation.
Jackson is expected to be photographed and fingerprinted before being released on bail. His bail has been set at $3 million and he is required to hand over his passport.
Throngs of camera crews and news reporters were on hand at the Santa Barbara airport and the sheriff's station for the arrival of the self-proclaimed "King of Pop."
Police and investigators searched the singer's Neverland Ranch and two other locations in California on Tuesday and issued an arrest warrant for him citing multiple counts of "lewd and lascivious" behavior with a child under the age of 14. If convicted, Jackson could face up to eight years in prison on each count.
The 45-year-old singer had been in Las Vegas, Nevada filming a music video and was not at home when authorities searched his estate.
A spokesman for Michael Jackson called the charges malicious and outrageous and said the superstar intends to fight them in court.
Jackson's career suffered in 1993 after similar allegations surfaced that he had molested a young boy. He disputed the allegations and no charges were ever filed. However, the singer is reported to have paid a multi-million-dollar settlement to the boy's family. Michael Jackson is the father of three young children.
The singer had international hits with the albums Thriller, Bad and Dangerous.