Two people are suspected of threatening to blackmail Steve Wonder
Saturday May 12, 2012
Stevie Wonder's nephew has been charged with extortion after allegedly threatening to sell embarrassing information about the US singer.
Alpha Walker, 38, was arrested along with his girlfriend Tamara Diaz on May 2. Both have pleaded not guilty over the suspected scheme.They will appear in court in Los Angeles on May 16 where a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for them to stand trial.
The pair had threatened to reveal information they claimed would be embarrassing to the "Superstition" singer unless he met their demands, the LA District Attorney's office said.
The suspects allegedly tried to obtain $5m (£3.1m) from Wonder and said they could go to the media with a story of incest, it was reported.
The pair later apparently lowered the sum to $10,000 (£6,200) and were detained by undercover police posing as representatives of the musician.
Walker was on probation at the time of his arrest after pleading no contest to grand theft in May 2011.
A judge sentenced him to three years in prison in that case and he is due in court for a probation violation hearing on May 31.
Walker is now being held without bail, while Diaz's bail was set at $95,000 (£59,000).
She was placed on three years' probation after pleading no contest in February 2011 to possession of marijuana with intent to sell, court records showed.
From Skynews
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