A fired worker at a Castleton company is charged, along with his wife, with trying to extort $3,000 from his former employer, according to Castleton police.

David K. Heibler, 33, and Allison I. Heibler, 31, each pleaded innocent in Rutland criminal court Monday to a felony count of trying to extort money from Paul Thompson, owner of Vermont Marble, Granite, Slate and Soapstone Company.

The couple was released on court-ordered conditions.

Castleton Police Officer Steve Dechen said he listened in on a phone call in which David Heibler demanded money from Thompson to keep him quiet regarding unspecified water and labor issues that Heibler contended were violations of state law.

Dechen said he also hid himself in Thompson’s office during a meeting between Thompson and the Heiblers. After the couple allegedly signed an agreement to keep quiet if the money was paid, Dechen said he arrested the pair.