Polson man admits to extortion attempt

POLSON — A Polson man admitted to charges of attempted theft last Wednesday in Lake County District Court as part of a plea agreement after he tried to extort a community member with a sex tape. Jack Whaling was one of the two men apprehended by police after the extortion victim went to authorities.

According to Lake County Sheriff’s Office reports, the extortion victim had called authorities after receiving an anonymous threatening note that said a video of the victim engaged in sexual activity would be published on the Internet if the victim didn’t pay up. The letter demanded $10,000 cash to be dropped at a location in Lake County and contained a thumb drive with a copy of the video referred to in the letter.

The victim said the video was stored on a video recorder that had been stolen from his home during a burglary several years earlier. He added he didn’t know who the suspects were. Authorities prepared a bag containing primarily fake bills covered in real U.S. currency. On Aug. 17, surveillance was set up at the cash drop-off zone and the victim dropped the bag off. Four and a half hours later, two men arrived at the scene to retrieve the bag. Authorities identified themselves, causing the men to run.

Whaling’s accomplice was apprehended at the scene and he identified Whaling, saying that he had probably run off to his parent’s house. When authorities arrived to make contact with Whaling, they also had to apprehend his mother in the process.

The 20-year-old Whaling will be sentenced on March 7, and according to the plea agreement, will receive a deferred sentence of three years and serve 60 days in the Lake County Jail.