LOS ANGELES, Sept. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- US pop superstar Michael Jackson allegedly paid about 2 million US dollars to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch in 1990 to avoid child molestation charges, the NBC4 TV reported Thursday.

    According to a report to be aired Friday night by the "Dateline NBC" TV news magazine, retired Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Thomas, now a NBC news analyst, said his office investigated Jackson in 1993 in connection with one boy's claim and came upon the second accusation.

    The first boy reportedly was paid 15 million dollars to 20 million dollars by Jackson to avoid charges that would damage his career even if proved untrue. Jackson has denied ever harming any child and is currently fighting charges he molested a boy in 2003.

    Jackson's lawyer said there were eight to 10 other children that could be involved in contact with Jackson, many of them admitted spending time with Michael Jackson in his bedroom.

    Thomas said the employee's son, a 12-year-old body, had accused Jackson of "fondling him through his clothes." But the boy did notfile charges and did not want to testify "because he was afraid his friends would think he was homosexual."

    "Dateline" said the settlement contained a clause barring it from being discussed publicly.

    Earlier press reports said Jackson paid about 23 million dollars to settle molestation charges brought by another boy in 1993.

    Jackson, 45, has pleaded not guilty to committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. His trial is set to start on Jan. 31, 2005. Enditem