People v. Harris

In People v Fobb, the Court of Appeals held that an extortion conviction under the “against his will” prong of MCL 750.213 may only be maintained when the act defendant sought to compel entailed “serious consequences” to the victim. This case requires us to revisit the Fobb decision. In the instant case, a jury convicted defendant of extortion after he maliciously threatened to injure a mechanic unless the mechanic resumed working on defendant’s truck in the rain. Defendant, relying on Fobb, maintains that he cannot be convicted of extortion because the act defendant sought to compel — the…