DOCUMENT: Crime

Jacko's Ex Can't Talk About Sex

"Gag" agreement emerges in Rowe's custody battle

View Document

Jacko's Ex Can't Talk About Sex

FEBRUARY 3--When Michael Jackson divorced his second wife, the woman signed a confidentiality agreement barring her from talking about the King of Pop's mental and physical condition, purported drug use, and "sexual behavior," according to a recent court filing. When Deborah Rowe, the mother of two of Jackson's children, divorced the entertainer in October 1999, she agreed--as part of a multimillion dollar financial settlement--to stay mum about intimate details of her ex's life. As part of the divorce settlement, Rowe, who met Jackson while working for a Los Angeles dermatologist frequented by the singer, ceded custody of the children to Jackson and agreed not to communicate with them. In October 2001, Rowe even asked a Superior Court judge to completely terminate her parental rights, a request that was granted. However, in a change of heart apparently prompted by Jackson's criminal troubles, Rowe is now seeking custody of the children. In connection with that court action, Rowe's lawyer, Iris Finsilver, recently filed the below declaration referencing terms of the 1999 confidentiality agreement. According to press reports, Rowe's name is contained on the list of prospective witnesses submitted to Jackson's trial judge by Santa Barbara prosecutors. Last month, subpoenaed records described only as "Finsilver (RE: SDT)" were provided to Santa Barbara sheriff's Detective Craig Bonner, according to a court receipt. (8 pages)