No one can accuse Twins SP Carl Pavano of having an uninteresting life. The former Yankee underachiever who resurrected his career in the Twin Cities was allegedly the target of an extortion scheme engineered by a former high school classmate who threatened to reveal details of an “emotional and physical relationship” between the two. From The Record Journal’s Jesse Buchanan and Richie Rathsack :
In the affidavit, Pavano’s sister, Michelle DeGennaro, said Christian Bedard, 36, of Southington, was “attempting to extort monetary funds for his fabricated, false information” and that he believes he can hold the Pavano family “hostage” with the information.
“The only way your brother is getting out of this… is with a heart-felt apology and a navy Range Rover with tan leather,” Bedard said in one message to DeGennaro.
Police seized a laptop and a journal from Bedard’s Hunting Hill Drive home last Wednesday, but have not charged him with any crime. The warrant allowed police to seize documents naming Pavano and any computers used to send Facebook messages. It stated materials collected would constitute evidence in an investigation into second-degree harassment and first-degree criminal attempt to commit larceny.
Bedard told DeGennaro that he had a $1.2 million book deal. “That is my best offer, an apology and a Land Rover and I’ll kill the project,” Bedard wrote.
In a later message, Bedard said he rescinded the offer and said “the book is the best deal.” He also mentions his mother Elaine Bedard’s political connections and the fact that she is a local police commission member.
“What’s even better is my mom’s the police commissioner and there is an open file on you already,” Bedard said to DeGennaro in a Facebook message, according to the affidavit. Elaine Bedard, who is also Democratic town chairwoman, said Monday that she has nothing to do with the police investigation, which police confirmed.
The publisher of Bedard’s book has yet to be identified, but I’m a little skeptical there’s anyone out there willing to pay for a volume entitled “I Had Sex With Carl Pavano (And I’m A Man)”. And when you’re done laughing at this case, please spare a thought for the real victim, who will have to spend far too much time explaining he never went to high school with Carl Pavano.