Couple pleads not guilty to Stevie Wonder extortion

Two people charged with extorting singer Stevie Wonder have pleaded not guilty in a Los Angeles court. Alpha L. Walker, Wonder’s cousin, and Tamara Diaz, Walker’s girlfriend, entered the pleas Thursday and will return to court for a pretrial hearing soon. It was the couple’s first court appearance since a judge determined there was enough evidence for them to stand trial earlier this month.

Walker is accused of trying to extort the Grammy award-winning musician over a video that portrays Wonder unfavorably. Both Walker and Diaz were arrested in May after receiving $10,000 from Wonder’s attorney in a police sting. Walker’s attorney says his client’s actions, simply filming a movie about the “Isn’t She Lovely” singer’s life, are protected by the First Amendment.