Exotic dancer charged with extorting $7,000 from pastor

An exotic dancer from Moorhead has been charged with extorting $7,000 from a married church pastor from North Dakota in exchange for keeping quiet about their affair.

Clay County court documents say 46-year-old Bunny Annette Byington told the pastor's wife, a senior pastor and assistant to the bishop about the affair after the pastor told her he could not come up with an additional $18,000 in hush money.

The charges say Byington sent the bishop a photo of the pastor wearing only underwear and a T-shirt.

Court documents say the pastor first contacted Byington three years ago through an ad for an exotic dancer. He eventually started paying Byington for sex.

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A message left today for Byington's attorney was not immediately returned.

Byington is charged with felony coercion and attempted coercion. A trial date has not been set.

No charges have been filed against the Valley City pastor, who resigned in June. ---

Information from: Jim Monk, KFGO-AM, http://kfgo.com