US man pleads no contest for extorting official with explicit photos

Book (middle) contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Nov 12, after someone sent her several explicit photos and threatened to ruin her political career by releasing them to the public. — AP

MIAMI: A South Florida man pleaded no contest Wednesday to charges related to trying to get US$5,000 (RM21,992) from a state senator after threatening to release what he said were sexually explicit photos of her.

Jeremy Kamperveen, 20, of Plantation, entered an open plea in Broward County circuit court, according to court records. He was facing charges of extortion, unlawful use of a two-way device and cyberstalking. The open plea means he has no deal with prosecutors, and his attorney, Michael Heise, said Kamperveen faces up to 21 years in prison at a July 19 sentencing hearing.