WSU Student charged with extortion

PULLMAN — A Washington State University student faces first-degree extortion charges in Whitman County Superior Court following allegations from her former partner.

Taylor Asante, 21, of Pullman, is accused of threatening to damage Ethan Reynolds’ phone if he did not pay $80 for its return, court records show. The charge stems from a Sept. 13, 2023, incident, records show. Reynolds reported the alleged extortion to police.

According to court documents, Reynolds and Asante had been in a brief romantic relationship that began in August 2023.

Reynolds claimed that after drinking some of Asante’s...