Mother in Jackson Trial Admits to Welfare Fraud

BBC News reports that the mother of the boy who claimed the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, sexually abused him, pleaded no contest to Welfare fraud, on Tuesday.

Janet Arvizo, 38, of Los Angeles, was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service and repay more than $8,600 for illegally claiming thousands of dollars in assistance and for committing perjury. Ms. Arvizo's attorney, Patricia J. Hattersley, said the mother plead no contest to the charges because she wanted to "move on with her life." Hattersley stated, "She doesn't want to put her family and her children through a major trial."

During the Michael Jackson child molestation trial, Arvizo was an important prosecution witness, but evidence of her alleged Welfare fraud surfaced as Jackson's lawyers tried to prove that she was not a credible witness. At that point, Ms. Arvizo refused to testify about her financial state, due to the fact that her testemony might be incriminating.

Meanwhile, Michael Jackson is in London where he will be performing "Thriller" at the World Music Awards and will be receiving an award for his musical career.