Team Jackson goes on offensive

Geragos hires controversial P.I. to dig up dirt on accuser

Michael Jackson's defense team has hired controversial private investigator Zvonko Pavelic to dig up the dirt on witnesses for the prosecution.

By Jeannette Walls with Ashley Pearson
MSNBC
Updated: 5:08 p.m. ET Dec 5, 2003

Expect to see a smear campaign against Michael Jackson’s accusers. Defense attorney Mark Geragos has hired private investigator Zvonko “Bill” Pavelic to dig up the dirt on witnesses for the prosecution and a source who’s dealt with Pavelic says that things will most likely get ugly.

Pavelic, a former L.A.P.D. detective, worked with Geragos in the Scott Peterson murder trial. But he was also a crucial — and controversial — behind-the-scenes operator in the O.J. Simpson trial.

Pavelic, insiders believed, was key in discrediting Mark Fuhrman — who he knew because they had both worked as security guards for Johnny Carson. He was also accused of planting false evidence with the prosecution and was chided by Judge Lance Ito after it was revealed that he had secretly interviewed a defense witness. In that tape interview, it was charged, he coached Rosa Lopez, Simpon’s alibi witness.

Pavelic was a controversial figure even when he was with the L.A.P.D. The official reason for his retirement was disability — but he ran afoul of the department, accusing them of corruption and racism, while police officials accused him of being “bitter,” “paranoid” and “vengeful.”

“He’s very tough and very tenacious,” says a source who has battled Pavelic. “If he’s on a case, anyone making accusations against the defendant had better watch out.”

In the zone
Meanwhile, a Santa Barbara source says he’s thrilled that justice finally seems to be coming to Michael Jackson. For his zoning violations, that is.

The Jackson neighbor says that the pop superstar “seemed to have been given a free rein for years” to build whatever he wanted at Neverland Ranch — but for some reason, local officials have been cracking down on him lately.

“This is a place where you practically get hauled off to jail for building a picket fence that’s six inches above zoning regulations,” fumes Jackson’s angry neighbor. “But he managed to put up three ferris wheels without permission!” According to one report in a local paper, half of the 16 amusement rides at Neverland were built without proper permits.

“Only within the last couple of months has anybody been doing anything about it,” the neighbor tells the Scoop. “Maybe it was so they could snoop on other things going on. Who knows? But it proves that, in the end, no one is above the zoning laws!”

Jeannette Walls delivers the Scoop Monday through Thursday in MSNBC Entertainment.