Read the whole story at The Billings Gazette…

Woman pleads guilty to blackmailing developer

A woman pleaded guilty Friday to blackmailing a prominent Bozeman developer over an alleged prostitution ring under investigation by the FBI.

Shannon Michelle Clark, a 36-year-old Bozeman resident, told U.S. District Judge Justin Quackenbush that she had a sexual relationship with William Martel for four years, during which time he paid her rent and some other bills with cash and business proceeds from his construction company, Martel Construction.

After Martel ended the relationship in June 2008, Clark threatened to tell the FBI about the money and sex unless he provided her with “severance pay” of $10,000 a month for six months.

“He asked me to lie to the FBI about our relationship being sexual,” Clark said.

Martel, who is the namesake of Bobcat Stadium’s Martel Field at Montana State University, knew he was under investigation and asked Clark to tell the FBI he helped her out financially because she was a “struggling single mother,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Racicot.

Racicot said in court the FBI was investigating “whether or not there was a prostitution ring operating in Bozeman and if William Martel was a client of that ring.” He also said the FBI has interviewed Martel, who is a Bozeman community leader.

Martel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.