Published: Thursday, July 26, 2012, 1:05 p.m.
Pair plead not guilty to extorting Stevie Wonder
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LOS ANGELES -- Two people charged with extorting Stevie Wonder have pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles court.
District attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison says Alpha L. Walker and Tamara Diaz entered the pleas Thursday and will return to court in the future for a pretrial hearing.
It was the pair's first court appearance since a judge determined there was enough evidence for them to stand trial earlier this month.
Walker is Wonder's cousin and is accused of trying to extort the Grammy-winning musician over a video that portrays Wonder negatively. Walker and Diaz, his girlfriend, were arrested in May after receiving $10,000 from Wonder's attorney in a police sting.
Walker's attorney says his client simply made a movie about his life and his actions are protected by the First Amendment.
District attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison says Alpha L. Walker and Tamara Diaz entered the pleas Thursday and will return to court in the future for a pretrial hearing.
It was the pair's first court appearance since a judge determined there was enough evidence for them to stand trial earlier this month.
Walker is Wonder's cousin and is accused of trying to extort the Grammy-winning musician over a video that portrays Wonder negatively. Walker and Diaz, his girlfriend, were arrested in May after receiving $10,000 from Wonder's attorney in a police sting.
Walker's attorney says his client simply made a movie about his life and his actions are protected by the First Amendment.
Story tags » • Crime, Law & Justice • Celebrities
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