Charges against a resort owner accused of extortion were dismissed in the 86th District Court Thursday.

The case against ParkShore Resort owner Bryan Punturo was dismissed by Judge Thomas J. Phillips at the conclusion of a preliminary examination that had already been delayed several times.

The case was brought by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, who alleged that in summer 2014 Punturo threatened the owner of a parasailing business, telling the man he would run him out of business unless he paid tens of thousands of dollars. Schuette said Punturo told the man he had “both the people and the resources to ensure” his company would fail and that fearful of losing his business, the man paid Punturo $35,000. Punturo faced up to 20 years in prison if he had been convicted.

Punturo’s attorney, Jonathan Moothart, says what his client did wasn’t extortion, it was business.

“The conduct that was established and that they alleged that Mr. Punturo engaged in wasn’t illegal,” Moothart says. “There was tons of evidence. The evidence didn’t establish that a crime was committed.”

Moothart notes that it is extremely rare for felony charges to be dismissed at a preliminary exam and he said he appreciated the time and consideration Phillips put into the case.