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WAITING FOR A VERDICT

A closer look at six faces in the crowd

	RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS For Robert Bass the media spectacle is a chance to spread God's word.

ROBERT BASS, a 46-year-old paraplegic from Atascadero:

Mr. Bass says he was as close to committing suicide with a shotgun as one could be.

"I was a drug-addicted alcoholic and I went to Kmart to buy a shotgun to blow my head off," Mr. Bass said.

But the store employee told Mr. Bass he'd have to wait while a background check was conducted. During that time Mr. Bass found God -- and he comes to the courthouse in Santa Maria to encourage others to do the same.

"The Bible has given all believers the commission to get his word out because God is not willing that any should perish, but all be saved."

But many of the fans who come day after day to support their idol in his time of need have little time for Mr. Bass.

"The Bible says one person plants, another person waters but it's God who causes the increase," said Mr. Bass. "All I can do is get the word out there with a pure heart."

-- Scott Steepleton

FARIBA GARMANI, 44, a self-employed mortgage lender from Mission Viejo:

MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS When the verdict is read, Fariba Garmani will release a white dove for every nont-guilty verdict. She bought them in Lompoc and brings them to the courthouse each day.

Michael Jackson's music wasn't even allowed to be played -- legally, anyway -- when Ms. Garmani left her homeland of Iran 23 years ago.

"At the time I was there, there was no music," she said. "With that government there was no joy, so there was no music."

In her new home Ms. Garmani can listen to as much Michael Jackson as she can stand, and that's a lot. "I'm a huge fan."

It's that devotion, and a good job, that enabled Ms. Garmani to stop off in Santa Maria as long as it takes to see Mr. Jackson through the conclusion of the trial.

"This is the most crucial time of his life and this is the time that he needs us the most."

When it's all said and done, Ms. Garmani said, she will release a white dove for every not-guilty verdict.

The doves came from a man in Lompoc and they accompany Ms. Garmani to the courthouse each day. "The guy wanted $150, but because I was so excited to find them I gave him $200," she said.

A small price to pay to show her support.

If the jurors find the singer not guilty on all charges, Ms. Garmani will release 10 doves.

Another two symbolizing the singer himself will also be set free.

And if the jury rules against the singer?

"If I can not release any of them," Ms. Garmani said, "I would be devastated."

-- Scott Steepleton

	RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS Marionette master Eveline Popp has been a familiar face.

EVELINE POPP, 72, self-made marionette master from Venice Beach:

She's been a familiar face outside the trial since March, and she may well be the oldest Michael Jackson fan in Santa Maria.

What truly sets Ms. Popp apart from the others is her sidekick: a handmade marionette that looks like the King of Pop.

In Ms. Popp's hands, the thing even moonwalks.

The marionette is a favorite among fans and the media -- and Ms. Popp is a darling of sorts among the media from her native Germany.

Like other fans, she's in this for the long haul.

"I come here as much as I can possibly afford the train or the bus to come up here. And I will come out here until it's clear, until he's free," said Ms. Popp.

"Even if I have to panhandle for my bus ride, I will come here because I do believe everybody's support here is important."

-- Scott Steepleton

MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS Larry Mays is not so interested in whether Mr. Jackson is innocent or guilty. "He needs help whether he did it or didn't do it," he said. "He's going to need a lot of prayer."

LARRY MAYS, a 56-year-old preacher from Inglewood:

In sunglasses and a straw Rancho Mirage golf hat, Larry Mays carried his message to Santa Maria this week. Emblazoned on a a white banner are the words: "Ask Jesus to Save You Now."

"This is my ministry," said Mr. Mays as he walked through the crowd of Michael Jackson fans outside the courthouse.

His work for Jesus isn't anything new for Mr. Mays, who was one of the few people to attend about every day of both O.J. Simpson's criminal and civil trials in the mid-1990s. His message then as now was the same: "To bring people to the Lord."

It's not about supporting Michael Jackson and it wasn't about supporting O.J. Simpson, either. Mr. Mays just sees the convergence of so many cameras and reporters as a chance to spread the word of God.

"I have to get the word out," Mr. Mays said.

He arrived on a Greyhound bus on Monday, and waited for a possible verdict all day Tuesday.

But Mr. Mays is not so interested in whether Mr. Jackson is innocent or guilty. "He needs help whether he did it or didn't do it," he said. "He's going to need a lot of prayer."

His ministry has taken him to Africa and he has preached in churches, but in the end he said he tries to go where he sees the most need.

"I learned in my walk with the Lord that regardless of what we do, we should look at people the way God looks at people. I don't look down on people for what they might have done."

-- Scott Hadly

	Ulrich Oppold is a U.S. correspondent for one of Germany's top network news programs.

ULRICH OPPOLD, a 44-year-old reporter based in New York for Germany's RTL-TV :

In his two years as the U.S. correspondent for one of Germany's top network news programs, Ulrich Oppold has covered the presidential election, New York City's post-Sept. 11 counter-terrorism efforts and, of course, the Michael Jackson child molestation trial in Santa Maria.

This is the fourth time since Mr. Jackson's arrest that he's been sent to Santa Maria and like the throng of international reporters camping out around the county courthouse, he'll be here until there's a verdict.

"In the beginning it was the top story," Mr. Oppold said. "Then interest declined a bit."

The pretrial promise of a parade of celebrity witnesses didn't pan out, making the case a little less interesting, and he said people were also turned off by the more "disgusting details" of the case. Now people are interested again. They want to know what happens, so he Mr. Oppold, his producer and cameraman wait like the 1,500 other members of the media at the courthouse.

"I can think of worse places to be," said Mr. Oppold, enjoying the sunshine while sitting at Coffee Diem, a cafe next to the courthouse.

-- Scott Hadly

MIKE ELIASON/NEWS-PRESS Tim Cavenagh, Santa Barbara County sheriff's reserve deputy, has helped keep the crowd peaceful.

TIM CAVENAGH, 67, Santa Barbara County sheriff's reserve deputy and retired aerospace worker:

Since the beginning of Michael Jackson's trial 4 1/2 months ago, his safety has depended on people like Tim Cavenagh.

The spry 67-year-old reserve sheriff's deputy is part of the crew of deputies who staff the security fence around the courthouse. They make sure every reporter entering the secured area has the proper credentials and they keep an eye out for any unruly fans.

"We haven't had anything violent and for the most part everyone has been pretty pleasant," said Mr. Cavenagh, wearing a wide-brimmed sheriff's hat and mirrored aviator sunglasses.

A retired Lockheed-Martin aerospace worker, Mr. Cavenagh has worked as a reserve deputy for 31 years. Reserve deputies are not full-time peace officers, but fill in when needed. Mr. Cavenagh, who is a reserve captain in charge of the reserve officers in the North County, has experience patrolling Isla Vista's rowdy Halloween crowds and Santa Barbara's raucous Fiesta celebration.

The Jackson trial's drama appears tame in comparison, he said.

"It's much less intense," said Mr. Cavenagh.

But being on his feet patrolling around the courthouse from 6 a.m. until after 3 p.m. is a challenge unto itself.

"The key is good shoes," he said, lifting up one of his black boots. "Good shoes and to keep moving."

-- Scott Hadly

Assistant City Editor Scott Steepleton can be reached by e-mail at ssteepleton@newspress.com and Senior Writer Scott Hadly at shadly@newspress.com