Kevin Hart’s former friend off the hook on extortion charges

J.T. Jackson is still facing other felony charges.

The felony extortion charge against Kevin Hart’s former friend J.T. Jackson stemming from the comedian’s alleged sex tape has been dropped, though he is still facing felony charges for other crimes.

According to The Wrap, the L.A. District Attorney’s office filed a motion on Friday (Sept. 27) to dismiss the charge — extortion by threatening letter. Prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence to convict Jackson with the criminal charge.

TMZ reports that because Jackson never made a specific demand for money to Kevin or his team, the extortion charge would not stick. Jackson did make demands to various websites and blogs, but they were not directed towards the comedian or his team. Jackson did, however, request money on Hart’s Instagram account once the comedian issued a public apology and admitted to having a liaison with the women in his alleged sex tape.

The threat in Hart’s comments said, “Give me $5 million or I’m releasing the video.” However, because there was no apparent extortion involved, the D.A. will have the charges dismissed.

Prosecutors are still gong after Jackson for other crimes, including two counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information, as well as attempted concealing and selling stolen property. All three of these counts are felonies.

Meanwhile, a $60 million lawsuit filed against Hart by a woman named Montia Sabbag, who was allegedly featured in the tape, was dismissed. She filed the lawsuit earlier this month, claiming that Hart and several other defendants allowed a sexual encounter with her and the comedian in a Las Vegas hotel room to be filmed without her knowledge or consent.

Sabbag initially accused Hart of invasion of privacy, infliction of emotional distress, and negligence in the lawsuit. A judge dismissed the case over technical legal issues.

TMZ reports that Hart has denied having any knowledge of the encounter being recorded.