Guilty Plea Entered in Extortion of Doctor
A former Harvard University student pleaded guilty to attempted extortion Wednesday for demanding $10,000 in hush money from an AIDS-infected doctor. John Michael Fountain entered his plea at a pretrial conference in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Under the terms of the plea bargain, he faces a maximum 16-month prison term. A second count of sending a threatening letter for extortion is expected to be dismissed at his Jan. 9 sentencing, prosecutors said.
The 21-year-old West Hollywood resident had been working part-time for an accounting firm that reportedly has several clients who are believed to have tested HIV-positive, authorities said. Using that confidential information, Fountain mailed the doctor a “ransom” note that contained a newspaper article about legislation to impose fines and incarcerate physicians who carry the AIDS virus.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
