Robert Halderman Pleads Guilty in Letterman Plot

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 9th 2010 12:56PM

The news producer accused of trying to blackmail David Letterman agreed Tuesday to plead guilty to attempted grand larceny in exchange for six months in jail and four and a half years probation, according to various reports. He also must complete 1,000 hours of community service.

Robert Halderman, 52, entered his plea in Manhattan Supreme Court this afternoon. Earlier in the day, TMZ confirmed with Halderman's lawyer that he would indeed cop to the charges.

Halderman, who originally pleaded not guilty, faced upwards of 15 years in prison if convicted.

The bizarre story began in October when 'The Late Show' host stunned viewers by abruptly revealing the existence of an extortion case against him and acknowledging that he'd had affairs with women on his staff.

As the saga unfolded, details began to emerge.

Halderman reportedly demanded $2 million as hush money, threatening to reveal information he'd gleaned from reading in his then-girlfriend's diary about her trysts with Letterman, her boss. Halderman's threat was couched as an outline of a thinly-veiled screenplay about the comic's life unraveling with the disclosure of his dalliances, prosecutors say.

His lawyer, Gerald Shargel, claimed Halderman was simply offering to sell his "very marketable story" to Letterman -- and to keep it confidential as part of the deal.

"This was not a sale of anything legitimate, this was classic extortion," Letterman lawyer Daniel J. Horwitz replied in a statement.

Halderman was a producer for CBS' '48 Hours.'

Comments

(27)

Tuesday 09 March

By Charles

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I never understood the need some people have to write "diaries". It is how a lot of people get caught in this country. A diary is a childish thing. It is a self important thing for an adult and is ridiculous. To write about trysts is absurd and pathetic for any adult. It is a way to let others into your head. What's inside one's head is personal and does not belong to anyone else.

By b

G whiz I think Letterman's actions speak for themselves. For one thing have you every heard of adultery? Wake up people! He's a jerk for another thing.

Wednesday 10 March

By mark

Why is it that everyone thinks that as soon as you set foot in a jail you get raped. 6 months is nothing in a county jail and thats where he will be, not in the state pin. There are a lot of people in jail that just want to do their time and walk away from a bad part of their life without the public throwing them all the way to the curb.

By BOB

good for you dave...you got a very good lawyer that told what he felt was the truth..good lawyers can defend their clients when they believe in them..and i believe you too!

By Gina

They should put Letterman in jail. He is such an as*.

By sandy-jack

Halderman is a very troubled man. Two failed marriages and a girlfriend who tried to have it both ways. Keeping a diary at her age meant one thing. She probably planned on a tell-all book one day. I am ashamed of the women who to gain advancement thru sex should be ashamed. I know women like that in my workplace. It's a fact of life. As for me, if I get an advancement - it's because I really deserve it. Letterman was right in what he did. Whether you like him or not!

OH BY THE WAY, GROW UP GINA!

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