Wilmington man gets community control in Highland County extortion case

A Wilmington man was sentenced to community control this week and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to an extortion charge in Highland County.

As previously reported, Christian I. Kittrell, 23, was indicted by a Highland County grand jury in March and charged with two counts of extortion, both third-degree felonies.

The indictment alleged that between December 2023 and February 2024, Kittrell extorted two victims “in Clinton County and as a continuing course of criminal conduct in Highland County.” Allegedly, Kittrell “did … expose or threaten to expose any matter tending to subject [both victims] to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to damage [the victims’] personal or business repute, or to impair [the victims’] credit,” with the purpose of obtaining U.S. currency from both victims.  

Kittrell pleaded guilty to one count, with the other count dismissed, on April 3.

During a sentencing hearing May 2, Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss imposed three years of community control and ordered Kittrell to successfully complete residential treatment and aftercare at The Counseling Center. 

Kittrell was also ordered to pay restitution to two victims, one in the amount of $918.95 and one in the amount of $540. 

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