A woman accused of planting a dead rat in restaurant food and demanding $500,000 to keep quiet was charged Monday with one felony count of extortion. Debbie R. Miller, 41, of Appleton also faces misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer. Miller was being held Monday in the Outagamie County Jail on $1,500 cash bond. Court Commissioner Brian Figy said the bond amount reflected Miller's lack of a criminal record.

"The defendant may have some physical or mental issues and has no warrant history," Figy said. "But the allegations are rather disturbing."

Online court records did not list a defense attorney for Miller.

Miller claimed to find the rat in her lunch April 17 as she ate at the upscale Seasons Restaurant in Grand Chute, according to the criminal complaint.

She threatened to alert the media unless the owners paid her $500,000, the complaint said.

The owners turned the rat over to their insurance company. Investigators there determined the rodent was a white laboratory rat, not a wild rat, the complaint said.

Tests also suggested the rodent had been cooked in a microwave, but the restaurant doesn't use microwaves in cooking.

Miller said the incident caused her to seek unspecified medical treatment.

The rat's body was about four inches long and its tail about 3 1/2 inches long.

The extortion charge carries a maximum penalty of 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while the two misdemeanor charges carry a top penalty of one year in jail plus an $11,000 fine.

Miller is due back in court Thursday for further proceedings.

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Information from: The Post-Crescent, http://www.postcrescent.com

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