wilkes

Curtis Chad Stone, 41, of 859 Edwards Lakeview Drive in the Pleasant Hill community, is charged with trying to obtain $500,000 apiece from nine individuals and one business through extortion. Warrants charging him were issued July 12.

Nine of the warrants charging Stone said he communicated threats to the identified victims "with the intent wrongfully to obtain $500,000" apiece by demanding this amount for damages he claimed he suffered.

One of the warrants said Stone communicated a threat with the intent wrongfully to obtain $500,000 for damages he claimed his business suffered.

Major Logan Kerr of the sheriff's office said the threats were made in letters mailed by Stone to the victims. Kerr declined to elaborate, but said Stone and the victims didn't know each other and that Stone selected victims at random.

Kerr said the sheriff's office "initially took a report on June 15 regarding a suspicious letter mailed to a homeowner." He said "25 more residents in Wilkes County have come forward to report the same letter has been mailed to them" and that Stone was charged with 25 counts of extortion.

Stone was released from custody on July 12 after posting a $100,000 bond for 10 counts of extortion, based on $10,000 per count.

He was arrested again for extortion on July 16 and released from custody on a written promise to appear in court on a certain date.

Det. Michael Hicks of the sheriff's office is the investigating officer.