Bedard: 'My Range Rover Comments Were Made in Jest'

Christian Bedard, the local resident under investigation in the possible extortion attempt against MLB pitcher Carl Pavano, spoke publicly to the media Thursday and released a statement in which he called the request for a Range Rover a joke.

Bedard and Pavano each graduated from in 1994 and bedard claims they had a relationship between the ages of 14 and 17.

Here is the statement released Thursday:

"I have been openly gay for most of my adult life. For years, my physical high school relationship with Carl Pavano has been well-known to my close friends and family."

"Carl Pavano's sister, Michelle DeGennaro, contacted me on Facebook asking under what conditions would I not talk about my relationship with Carl. I stated to Ms. DeGennaro that I wanted an apology from Carl for how he treated me at the end of our relationship and, expressly in jest, a Range Rover SUV. I did not attempt to extort money from Carl Pavano." 

"My local police department is in possession of the transcript of my Facebook exchange with Ms. DeGennaro, including my express language indicating to Ms. DeGennaro that my Range Rover comments were made in jest. I have not been charged with any crime. I will allow my local police department to conclude their investigation and I will have no further comment."

Pavano on Thursday also released a very brief statement in which he said he would not speak out regarding the case.

"At the advice of his attorney, Carl will not comment on the matter as it is an ongoing police investigation," said Mike Herman, director of baseball communications for the Minnesota Twins.