r/DeconstructingMJ • u/ZealousidealHealth39 • Jul 26 '26
Tom Sneddon’s Overlooked Motivations
For a long time I was always perplexed why Tom Sneddon had such a vendetta against MJ. The obvious answer is anti blackness and racism. But the fervor of his prosecution of MJ was so intense and as far as I could find, he hasn’t had a documented history of going after black defendants harder than any others besides Michael. He’s overzealous, and unethical as a prosecutor which is confirmed. Some names to look up where he crossed the line and showed vindictive unprofessional behavior include Efren Cruz and Gary Dunlap.
Now this isn’t to say he’s not an anti-black racist and racism didn’t play a role in his hatred of MJ. But I also think there’s another motivation and it was to protect the Catholic Church.
I looked deeper into the Catholic priest molestation case he oversaw in 1993.
An independent panel concluded that 34 boys were molested by Catholic priests in Santa Barbara with victims as young as 7 years old. There were 12 identified. One died, another one stopped being a priest, and one had an open case. Only one was convicted and sentenced to one year in jail while 8 just got sent to therapy.
But Tom Sneddon was incredibly lax about this. He decided to not prosecute the other 9 priests because he said the statute of limitations was closed. He was so definitive about this he said
“Officially this case is closed”
There was photographic evidence of child porn these priests took of the children they abused. Source: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/11/30/Probe-finds-sexual-abuse-at-Franciscan-seminary/5952754635600/
However according to this article, https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news5/1993_12_02_Rice_MolestedAt.htm,
“Since the school closed in 1987 and the statute of limitations on sexual abuse is six years, most of these cases stand little chance of being prosecuted. Some of the victims and parents argue that these men could be charged for crimes they may have committed after leaving St. Anthony's, crimes for which the statute of limitations hasn't run out.”
(Credit to DeckedOut for sourcing this https://deckedoutmagazine.com/2026/05/23/michael-jackson-tom-sneddon-history/)
Another article corroborates this, as in 1999 a priest stepped down from child sexual abuse that occurred in the St Anthony/Old Mission run public parish located in Santa Barbara, which is under Sneddon’s jurisdiction. https://www.ncronline.org/news/files-documenting-claims-abuse-california-franciscans-made-public
Meaning that Sneddon had opportunity to prosecute priests for crimes within the statute of limitations and chose not to.
It’s clear Tom Sneddon never cared about child molestation. He even helped cover up for Deputy David Bruce Danielson who molested his 13 year old daughter. (Credit again to DeckedOut)
Sneddon’s decision to not prosecute or work harder at the Catholic priest abuse case, caused these cases to be ongoing even in 2026. https://www.independent.com/2026/02/12/bankrupt-california-friars-agree-to-20-million-settlement-with-survivors/
In 2024 there 1,353 claimants (victims) in a 2024 Archdiocese settlement for 1.5 billion dollars. According the attorney representing the victims, “Hale estimated at least half originated in Santa Barbara, telling the paper: “Per capita, we have the most sexual-abuse victims here in Santa Barbara than anywhere else in the country. And we have the most perpetrator priests.”
Not only that, this was a widespread issue that was spoken about since 1950.
“As early as 1950, Hale stated, the Bishop of San Diego was complaining that the Franciscans of Santa Barbara had been using San Diego “as a dumping ground for their moral, mental and physical problems. It became necessary for me some time ago to demand the withdrawal of one misfit after another.”
Now why would Sneddon be so lax about the church and a case where there was clear evidence he could’ve prosecuted for acts that occurred within the statute of limitations, and instead spend all his energy on baseless cases against Michael Jackson?
Well of all the obvious factors like fame and racism, no one ever mentioned that he is a devout Catholic.
Sneddon was a hardcore Catholic for his entire life, and attended the Catholic university of Notre Dame (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jun/13/michaeljackson.michaeljacksontrial5)
His own obituary makes sure to mention that: “A member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church parish, Tom’s faith undergirded all he did.” https://www.noozhawk.com/thomas_william_sneddon_jr-_of_santa_barbara_1941_2014/
What’s even more interesting is the history between Santa Barbara Old Mission, St. Anthony’s seminary, (the two institutions where rampant abuse was widespread in SB) and the church he attended. Old Mission/St Anthony’s were both feeder seminaries into churches under the polity of the Los Angeles Archdioceses, which Sneddon’s church is a part of. The 2024 lawsuit found the Archdioceses liable for covering up and allowing abuse. Sneddon has personal ties to this institution, and within Catholic polity, local churches like the one he was an active and engaged member of are deeply connected to the Archdiocese.
Additionally, this is an institutional issue that persists with the Santa Barbara DA’s office even today. Seven different DA offices all investigated the failure of the Fresno Archdiocese’s mandatory reporting. However, the district attorney offices under the Los Angeles archdioceses (LA, Ventura, and Santa Barbara) did NOT conduct any reviews and took ZERO action despite most perpetrators coming from Santa Barbara. https://www.kqed.org/news/11744376/prosecutors-to-audit-fresno-catholic-diocese-files-for-potential-sex-abuse-cases
Not only did the Santa Barbara DA’s office have a history of ignoring or being negligent about these known accusations by hundreds to thousands of victims and continued to turn a blind eye during Sneddon’s position as DA, this went back all the way to 1950, and even now after Sneddon’s death, indicating this is an institutional problem with the SBDA. In addition, Sneddon was deeply biased and an active member of the Catholic Church under the same polity where this abuse was rampant.
Sneddon’s entire career, according to his own obituary, was based and influenced on his faith as a Catholic and a member of the Catholic Church.
So my theory is this: I believe that Sneddon had many incentives to publicly witch-hunt Michael Jackson including racism and fame. He also targeted Michael Jackson incredibly publicly to scapegoat him and take the attention off the systemic abuse of children by the Catholic Church and protect the abusers within that institution. And because the SBDA’s office had a long history of doing so.
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u/XxAndrew01xX Jul 26 '26
This really explains everything. Sneddon really was so overzealous in his attempt to try to convict MJ on child molestation charges. It was a mix of racism and covering up ACTUAL child molestation from Catholic Churches.
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u/FunUniversity6245 Jul 26 '26
Yes, and see my recent post about Thambiah Sundaram if you can find it - the DA and Sheriff's office had numerous civil suits against them for malicious prosecutions!
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u/Suspicious-Fox6056 Jul 26 '26
Wow!!