Rimes' Guard Won't Face Charges

LOS ANGELES (AP) - LeAnn Rimes' former bodyguard and fitness trainer will enter a diversion program rather than face charges of trying to extort money and a luxury car from the country singer.

Robert Lavetta of Burbank could have faced up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine had he been convicted of the two counts of extortion that U.S. District Judge Manuel Real dropped Monday.

Details of the agreement were placed under seal, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Carole Peterson said the 18-month diversion program is a form of probation, adding that if Lavetta violates the agreement, prosecutors can reinstate the charges. Deputy Public Defender Kiya Kato declined to comment.

Lavetta, 45, allegedly threatened to sell personal information and photographs of the 19-year-old Rimes to the tabloids unless she paid him $2 million severance pay and signed over her Ferrari to him.

Lavetta was fired on June 8 for allegedly stealing videotapes and photographs from Rimes.