WOODVILLE — A Wilkinson County inmate accused of threatening physical harm to a judge and assistant district attorney unless he was released now faces two counts of extortion.

According to a spokesperson for the Mississippi Attorney General’s office, Dewayne Dearing, 39, allegedly made the threats while serving time in the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility for soliciting sex from a minor.

He made an initial court appearance before a Monroe County judge on the extortion charge Thursday and was booked into the jail there before being returned to WCCF.

Dearing’s current sentence is for 20 years with 15 years suspended. He faces an additional 15 years for each count of extortion.