Amesbury man faces extortion charge

NEWBURYPORT (AP) - An Amesbury man has been charged with extortion and other offenses for allegedly threatening to accuse the town's high school boys basketball coach of assaulting a player and stealing from members of the team in an effort to get the coach fired.

John Manchester, a youth basketball coach with three children at Amesbury High, appeared in court on Tuesday on charges of extortion, threatening to commit a crime and intimidating a witness.

Police say the alleged threats took place in April during a meeting involving Manchester, coach Thom Connors, and the athletic director. Manchester is part of a group that wants Connors fired because he has a losing record.

Police investigated Manchester's allegations and found them to be unsubstantiated.

Manchester's lawyer tells The Newburyport Daily News the charges are outrageous and stem from a "simple coaching dispute."

Information from: The Daily News of Newburyport, http://www.newburyportnews.com