Michael Jackson surrendered to authorities on Thursday to face accusations of child molestation as television networks broke into regular programing to show the "King of Pop" -- once one of the world's most popular entertainers -- in handcuffs.

The 45-year-old singer, spirited back to central California on a private jet from Las Vegas, was taken into custody inside an airport hangar, then was booked, fingerprinted and photographed at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department before being freed on $3 million bond.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Chris Pappas said Jackson also had surrendered his passport and was ordered to return to court for a Jan. 9 arraignment.

As the entertainer was released, he flashed the peace sign, gave a thumbs-up and blew a kiss to reporters outside as he stepped into a sport utility vehicle and was driven away.

The mug shot taken of Jackson, posted on the sheriff's Web site and widely circulated on the Internet, showed the singer in lipstick and eyeliner, his cheeks sunken, looking tense with long hair hanging over one eye.

Police said Jackson was free to leave their jurisdiction after he posted bond, and the recording star returned Thursday afternoon to Las Vegas, where he had been shooting a music video earlier in the week.

Jackson's brief appearance in custody came 24 hours after authorities announced they had issued an arrest warrant for him on multiple felony charges of child molestation, reportedly stemming from allegations made by a 12-year-old boy who stayed with Jackson at his Neverland Ranch.

It was the second time in 10 years that such allegations

MODERN DAY 'PETER PAN'

have been made against the performer, who rose to fame as the young lead singer of the Jackson 5 during the 1960s, came of age as a wildly popular solo star and now fancies himself as a modern-day "Peter Pan," the boy who never grew up.

Earlier this year, Jackson acknowledged in a TV documentary that he has shared his bed "with many children" and appeared on camera holding hands with a 12-year-old boy who Jackson said was an overnight guest. Jackson insisted then there was nothing sexual about such sleepovers, which he viewed as an innocent form of affection.

In a brief written statement issued by his spokesman Thursday afternoon Jackson said, "Lies run sprints, but truth runs marathons. The truth will win this marathon in court."

Jackson's attorney, famed celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, told reporters outside the sheriff's office that his client "has given me the authority to say on his behalf, these charges are categorically untrue."

He said Jackson was "greatly outraged by the bringing of these charges" and "considers this to be a big lie."

"He understands the people who are outraged, because if these charges were true, I am sure that Michael would be the first to be outraged," Geragos added. "He looks forward to getting into a courtroom as opposed to any other forum and confronting these accusations head on."

As he spoke, two spectators held up signs outside the jail that said "Moonwalk 2 Jail" a reference to a dance that the singer made famous.

Santa Barbara sheriff's deputies met Jackson at the local airport and took him into custody inside a hangar that his plane had pulled halfway into to avoid the embarrassment of having the arrest seen on camera.

But a few minutes later, cameras caught a glimpse of Jackson, dressed in black, his arms behind him in handcuffs, being escorted into the sheriff's headquarters.

Hundreds of reporters were waiting for Jackson's arrival in a media frenzy that reminded some of the day that former football star O.J. Simpson (news) was arrested in 1994 on charges of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.

'JUST CRAZY'

Brian Oxman, an attorney for Jackson's family, said members of the eccentric superstar's family were prepared to step in, if necessary, to care for Jackson's three children, ages 6, 5 and 2. "He is not a danger to them," Oxman said.

Jackson's brother Jermaine, called CNN in a fury over Michael's arrest.

"We will fight and we will stand up and everybody who knows us from around the world will support us. Because at the end of the day, this is nothing but a modern-day lynching. This is what they want to see -- him in handcuffs, you got it! But it won't be for long, I promise you," he said.

Santa Barbara District Attorney Thomas Sneddon has said Jackson will be charged under a California law that defines molestation as "arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions or sexual desires of" the offender or a child under age 14. Each charge carries a penalty of three to eight years in prison.

Police spent more than 14 hours searching and videotaping Neverland Ranch on Tuesday. Authorities declined to specify what they were looking for or to divulge other details.

Jackson was the subject of similar child molestation allegations 10 years ago by a 14-year-old boy, but the accuser declined to testify after Jackson reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with the boy's family. No charges were ever filed. (Additional reporting by Gina Keating, Steve Gorman, and Arthur Spiegelman in Los Angeles and Steve Friess in Las Vegas)

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