Trial planned in Stamos extortion case

MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) - Plea-bargain talks have ended and a trial is set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a couple accused of trying to extort money from actor John Stamos.

Scott Sippola and Allison Coss are charged with three crimes, including conspiracy. They appeared with their lawyers at a pretrial conference Thursday in federal court.

Sippola and Coss were arrested in December after the FBI said they threatened to sell photos of Stamos unless he paid $680,000.

In a court filing Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maarten Vermaat said negotiations about a plea deal are over after they failed to produce a "mutually acceptable resolution." Trial is set for July 12.

Coss' lawyer, Frank Stupak Jr., declined to comment. A message seeking comment was left for Sippola's lawyer, Sarah Henderson.

Stamos' spokesman has said there was nothing embarrassing about the photos. The TV and stage actor has known Coss since 2004 when they met in Florida.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Greeley heard arguments Thursday on Sippola's attempt to suppress statements made after his arrest, The Mining Journal of Marquette reported online. He promised a ruling "fairly quickly."

Stamos' TV credits include "ER" and "Full House."