In exchange for the defendant's waiving his right to a hearing, Chester County Assistant District Attorney Megan Kampf withdrew two of five charges against Listenbee; however, she made it clear that the charges would be reinstated if the case went to trial - which Bellwoar said was unlikely.
Later, Kampf said two lesser charges were dropped so that the accuser would not have to testify and relive a painful part of her life and invasion of her privacy. The prosecutor said the most serious felony, theft by extortion, carries a penalty of probation to nine months in prison.
Several of the accuser's relatives attended the proceeding and said Listenbee's alleged actions had adversely affected the entire family.
Investigators recovered photos, phone messages, and text messages in connection with Listenbee's alleged extortion attempt, police said. Officers then helped the accuser set up a sting - a rendezvous to make the payment at Listenbee's workplace - the Bed, Bath & Beyond store in St. Davids.
When the accuser met Listenbee in the parking lot and handed him an envelope containing more than $2,000 in marked bills, police said, he took the money - and was taken into custody.
The judge commended Listenbee for having complied with his bail conditions, saying that, otherwise, the $75,000 unsecured sum would have increased.
"This case totally appalls me," Bailey said.
Contact staff writer Kathleen Brady Shea at 610-696-3815, kbrady@phillynews.com, or @brandywinebits on Twitter. Read her blog, "Chester County Inbox," at www.philly.com/chescoinbox.
