He's Gary's Smooth Criminal

By vouchey in Miscellaneous on Jun 14, 2005 11:07AM

Folks over in Gary, Indiana were dancing in the streets when local boy, Michael Jackson, was announced not guilty on all ten charges of his sexual molestation trial. The soot-covered mill town doesn't have much to celebrate these days, so a gathering at the downtown Bennegan's to watch the verdict was the big thing to do yesterday.

Jackson's family pretty much decamped from Gary when the five brothers started making some money (who can blame them), so there's really only distant relations left in town. Yet, Gary is filled with Jackson defenders, Chuck Hughe, Gary city councilman, "We are all prone to have a bump in the road, but what he's accomplished still makes him Gary's favorite son," he said.

People a couple of towns over in Valparaiso were less misty eyed about Jackson, "Stars and athletes are above the law,” Ken Whited said.

Image via WLS-TV.