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indicate page, name of newspaper, city and state.) Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, CA Section/Page: B8 Date: Friday, January 23, 2004 Tite: KEY FIGURE IN JACKSON CASE REPORTS THREATS Character or Classification: Submitting Office: LOS ANGELES Key Figure in Jackson Case —ee wom yer Reports Threats Police investigate calls to man who introduced singer to alleged victim. By RICHARD WINTON Times Staff Writer A comedy club owner who introduced Michael Jackson to the boy whom the pop star is charged with molesting said Thursday that he had received two phone calls this week, threatening him if he spoke on the boy’s behalf. Jamie Masada, owner of the Laugh Factory in Holly- wood, said the same person had placed one call to the club and one to his unlisted cellular phone number, one after the other Tuesday eve- ning. Masada said he had reported the calls to Los Angeles police. A police spokesman said the department could not comment on any ongoing threat investigation. Sources familiar with the in- vestigation said it was being handled by the depart- ment’s threat management unit and that the calls were being taken seriously. “I am taking precau- tions,” Masada told report- ers at a news conference where he was accompanied by a bodyguard. Masada said the caller had warned of harm if he spoke on the boy’s behalf. “They made specific reference” to as- pects of the case that aren’t publicly known, he said. Jackson, 45, was ar- rested Nov. 20 and charged with seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious behav- ior with a minor and two felony counts of using an in- toxicant to Seduce a minor. He pleaded not guilty and his attorney insists the alle- gations are motivated by greed. The boy was undergoing treatment for cancer in 2000 when he attended a comedy. camp that Masada oper- ated. Masada said he had helped arrange for the boy to meet several celebrities, including Jackson. Jackson is charged with molesting the boy between Feb. 7 and March. 10 of last year. Masada has said the boy’s mother told him last summer about the alleged abuse. BOOA- LA- 230475-Y DEV