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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Woman Who Claims To Be Cosby Child Denies Extortion

Los Angeles Times

A 22-year-old woman charged with trying to extort as much as $40 million from comedian Bill Cosby pleaded not guilty Thursday at her arraignment, and her lawyer said he would seek to show she is Cosby’s daughter when the case goes to trial.

“I think the evidence at trial will prove she is Bill Cosby’s daughter,” said Robert Baum, the lawyer for Autumn Jackson.

“I deny the charges that have been brought against me,” Jackson said. “I’d like to send my condolences to the Cosby family after Ennis’ death.”

Cosby’s 27-year-old son, Ennis, was shot to death in Los Angeles on Jan. 16 as he was changing a flat tire. No arrests have been made.

Federal prosecutors charged that the alleged extortion scheme began last November or December when Jackson called a lawyer for Cosby and said she was out of money. The lawyer sent her about $3,000.

Prosecutors said the scheme escalated in mid-December, charging that Jackson demanded as much as $40 million not to tell a tabloid paper she was Cosby’s daughter.

When Jackson and Jose Medina, an occupational therapist’s assistant and researcher, traveled from Los Angeles to Cosby’s lawyer’s offices in Manhattan, they were arrested by the FBI after accepting checks totaling $24 million.

Medina, 51, also told the court Thursday that he was not guilty.