Michael Jackson doctor Conrad Murray avoids jail in child support case

Ken Ritter, Associated Press

Published Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 | 12:22 p.m.

Updated Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 | 2:19 p.m.

The physician being investigated in Michael Jackson's death reached an agreement Monday in a separate child support case that will keep him out of jail.

Prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Dr. Conrad Murray after he failed to appear for previous hearings in the case. Attorney Christopher Aaron said today that Murray’s absence for the hearing was a misunderstanding caused by postal problems.

Murray is accused of owing more than $14,000 to a California woman, Nenita Malibiran, and her son dating back to October 2008.

With Murray in court, his lawyer Christopher Aaron paid $700 cash and promised to pay another $303 as part of the deal approved by Clark County District Court Judge Gerald Hardcastle.

Hardcastle took over the case after Family Court Judge Robert Teuton was forced to vacate his position earlier this month due to a gap in state election laws.

Aaron has said Murray, a cardiologist, has been unable to pay because he had to close his medical practice and move due to threats following Jackson's death June 25.

"He's radioactive," Aaron told The Associated Press. "He's unemployed and unemployable."

Aaron said Murray felt relieved after the hearing and hopes to move forward, both financially and professionally.

In Oct. 27 court filings, Clark County Deputy District Attorney Gerard Costantian asked the court to find Murray in contempt and send him to jail unless he could demonstrate an inability to pay.

After court proceedings this morning, Costantian said he thought the deal between Murray and Malibiran was fair. He said Malibiran dropped the suit because Murray is having trouble finding employment and she is forgiving. She still expects to receive child support but doesn’t hold Murray accountable for unpaid installments, he said.

“He is still responsible for that young child,” Costantian said. “Now we just have to go with what’s in black and white.”

Costantian said Murray must make two payments of $1,003 before returning to court at 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 4 for a status check. He said Murray should have California modify and reduce the amount if he is financially struggling.

The Los Angeles County coroner has ruled Jackson's death a homicide, caused primarily by propofol and another sedative.

Murray told investigators he administered propofol as a sleep aid, along with multiple sedatives, in the hours before Jackson died.

Murray has not been charged with a crime but is the focus of the Los Angeles police investigation, according to documents made public with search warrants served at his home and offices.

Miranda Sevcik, a spokeswoman for Murray, said he continues to maintain he neither prescribed nor administered anything to Jackson that should have killed him.

Murray, who is licensed in Nevada, Texas and California, had been hired to a lucrative $150,000-per-month contract to be the pop star's personal physician during a world tour.

At the time, the financially troubled physician owed at least $780,000 for settlements against his business, outstanding mortgage payments on his large Las Vegas house, delinquent student loans, credit cards and child support.

Another judge in Las Vegas is due Wednesday to consider unsealing search warrant documents stemming from a police raid Aug. 11 at a Las Vegas pharmacy from which authorities say Murray legally purchased propofol.

Meanwhile, Janet Jackson said she blamed Murray for her brother Michael's death.

She told ABC News in an interview to air Wednesday that Murray should no longer be allowed to practice medicine.

"He was the one that was administering," Jackson said. "I think he is responsible."

Sun reporter Tiffany Gibson contributed to this report.