Hundreds have traveled far to demonstrate support for their hero on trial — only to be welcomed by a traditional small-town community that just wants the fans to “Beat It.”

Pop singer Michael Jackson’s charges — including child molestation, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiracy to commit child abduction — have outraged some fans.

“He’s not guilty,” Sean Vernon, 24-year-old Jackson supporter said. “If anything, Michael should get a medal for all the humanitarian work he’s done.”

But many citizens in the town of 72,000 citizens — more than 14,000 of which are elderly and 1 in 10 adults of which is a retired veteran — want Jackson’s fans out of their peaceful lives.

To see this mentality first-hand, one only need walk inside the retro diner Boyd’s Restaurant in Santa Marina, the city in which the trial is taking place. The walls are plastered with 1950s photo memorabilia, and the sounds of Buddy Holly and Neil Diamond echo through the small, well-lit room.

Waitress Arline Lawrence is sick of everything the trial has brought to her town.

“It’s a bad way to get our name on the maps,” Lawrence said. “I’m tired of hearing about it and talking about it, really.”

Restaurant sales manager Steve Heller, 57, says he doesn’t understand the fans’ dedication.

“Some of them are even coming from LA or even Germany,” Heller said. “I don’t really know why.”

But Vernon, who traveled from Hollywood, will tell citizens why.

“I need to be here to support Michael,” he said. “After all, he’s done so much to make the world a better place.”

Some fans, like 41-year-old Sandra Rucht of Hamburg, Germany, seem to be at the trial for shallow reasons, saying that she only came when she saw on CNN that people were getting close to the superstar. But others, like 20-year-old singer Joseph Guidry of LA, have come clearly for more personal reasons.

“Hopefully, one day, I can follow in his footsteps as a singer,” Guidry said.

But unlike some very expressive fans, Guidry only shows support through song, playing Jackson’s “Billy Jean” on his guitar, and he does not put Jackson above the most important things in his life.

“I have one God, and that is the man upstairs,” Guidry said, “but Michael Jackson is my biggest influence beyond my Lord and Savior.”

Clearly, Jackson has not had that kind of impact on the elderly citizens of Santa Maria. Many only focus on what kind of unwelcome waves the trial has sent through their small town.

“Those big TV trucks take up all the parking and [the media are] always yammering on about this or that,” Joe Moore, 53, said. “The whole thing is just stupid and waste of taxpayer money.”

Heller says his views are also financial.

“Sure, some of the motels are cleaning up, but for the rest of us, it means lots more traffic around town and no business,” Heller said.

One thing is certain: the trial is not going away, and neither are the fans — as “Bad” as Santa Marina community members think that is.