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FILE - In a Tuesday, March 20, 2012 file photo, former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward answers a question after announcing his retirement from the NFL at the Steeler\'s offices in Pittsburgh. Joshua Van Auker, 26, of Pittsburgh, who claims his girlfriend once had a “physical relationship” with retired Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, was in custody Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 on charges he tried to extort 5,000 from the player by threatening to release evidence the player had paid for sex. Van Auker was awaiting arraignment on two felony counts of attempted extortion. Van Auker was arrested Thursday in Pittsburgh by detectives from the Allegheny County District Attorney\'s Office after he allegedly met with Ward\'s personal assistant, Raymond Burgess, who paid him the money in exchange for unspecified “materials” in an envelope that Van Auker said could prove his claims, according to a five-page criminal complaint. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Court date for man accused of trying to extort $15,000 from ex-Steeler Hines Ward is postponed

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A court date for a man charged with trying to extort $15,000 from former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has been postponed by more than a month.

The attorney for 26-year-old Joshua Van Auker says he needs more time to investigate the charges and the evidence.

Van Auker had been scheduled for a preliminary hearing Tuesday in which a judge would decide if there is enough evidence to go to trial. The hearing was postponed until Dec. 3.

Van Auker is accused of contacting Wards’ personal assistant last week and threatening to release an unspecified envelope’s worth of material that Van Auker said would show Ward had paid women for sex.

Investigators say the information doesn’t reach that level.

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