Letterman Extortionist Begins 6-Month Sentence

Last Updated 2:44 p.m. ET

The former CBS television producer who tried to shake down David Letterman over the comic icon's office affairs started a six-month jail term Tuesday, closing a case that opened Letterman's behind-the-scenes behavior to public scrutiny.

Robert "Joe" Halderman, 52, didn't speak before he was led from a Manhattan court in handcuffs to begin his jail sentence, to be followed by 1,000 hours of community service. He agreed to both when he pleaded guilty in March to attempted grand larceny.

Letterman wasn't on hand for Halderman's sentencing Tuesday. But throughout the six-month saga, Letterman made himself a presence in the case, if not the courtroom.

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He revealed the blackmail plot - and the workplace dalliances at the heart of it - before prosecutors unveiled the case. He dispatched his lawyers to many of Halderman's court appearances with statements in hand for the press, and Letterman himself commented during a TV appearance last week on the toll the disclosures had taken on his personal life.

Halderman, 52, admitted in March that he demanded $2 million in hush money last fall to keep from revealing personal information about Letterman. Halderman buttressed the threat with information he'd culled from peeking at a former girlfriend's diary, which described a relationship with Letterman, her boss, officials have said.

Besides being stung by jealousy, Halderman also was under financial pressure, his lawyer has said. Lawyers for Halderman's ex-wife have said in court papers that he was struggling with money in the aftermath of their divorce, and Halderman told a Letterman lawyer in a secretly taped conversation about his demand that he needed money to visit his son.

"I feel great remorse for what I have done," Halderman said when he pleaded guilty.

The case spurred Letterman to disclose on-air that he'd had sex with women on his staff, stunning viewers, stripping away his well-guarded privacy and initially tarnishing his good-guy image.

Viewers have stuck with Letterman, whose show averages 4 million viewers this season, up 3 percent over last season, according to the Nielsen Co. Letterman didn't have to compete against Jay Leno for several months this season.

But the scandal dealt Letterman an emotional blow. "You take a look at the explosion, and it knocks you down," he said Friday on "Live! With Regis and Kelly."

Letterman married longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko last year. They have a 6-year-old son.

Halderman, who was a producer at CBS' "48 Hours Mystery," no longer has his job there. The network, which also hosts Letterman's show, has declined to say whether he quit or was fired.

[erasmus111]

by pragmatist1 May 4, 2010 5:45 PM EDT
And to #111, by Letterman's own admission, he revealed what a hideous slimeball he was. Only low-life fools condone and accept this type of abhorrent and amoral behavior.


You're a moron. I didn't say that I condoned his behaviour. I'm saying that you have absolutely no idea what went on, so quit speculating.

[Avacon]

Good news for Lettermam. Bum comment to this is did anybody mention who the father of the child is? Was there a DNA test done on the child to confirm it's not Letterman's?

[bobnjersey]

[Halderman, who was a producer at CBS' "48 Hours Mystery," no longer has his job there. The network, which also hosts Letterman's show, has declined to say whether he quit or was fired. ]

he'll be offered his own late night show when he gets out. they're working out the details now.

[scubbasteve01]

Top 11 Reasons Halderman Will Have Trouble IN Jail

11) Halderman's Ken and Barbie Doll Contest.
10) Halderman won't have a Shawshank Redemption moment in prison.
9) Halderman will admit in prison, '' Yes, I've had sex in prison with men.
I admit and I have actually had sex with women. My therapist gave me
a real good rub-down the other day."
8) Halderman will have a GREEN MILE moment resurrecting every little
mouse in the entire prison.
7) Halderman Beauty Contest with inmates dressed in drag.
6) Halderman's Candy Shoppe not inspired by ' 50'' Cent's Candy Shop.
5) Halderman will write a Break-Out inspired screenplay with DMX and LiL
Wayne called The OREO Sex mE UP Chronicles.''
4) Halderman's Sports Illustrated JailBird Swimsuit Issue.
3) Halderman's Lindsay Lohan Milk Mustache Contest.
2) Halderman's Easy Bake Oven Contest.

DRUMROLL

Top 10 Reason No. 1

Halderman becomes the prison's number 1 rated Boy-Toy and will be somebody's Cootie-Faced Lint Licker behind bars and the main squeeze of BUBBA '' The King'' Owens, bipolar psychopathic prisoner who has had more lifetime catches than any NFL receiver and is proud to be a giver.

[pragmatist1]

This guy was a liar and a fraud and used his celebrity to get into bed with any idiot female foolish enough to think they were the one and only, and no doubt led to believe this by the conniving low-life Letterman. Those who suppor Letterman are amoral and have values.

[erasmus111]

I hate speculation. You have no idea what went on between Letterman and those women. They may have come on to him. Maybe it was a mutual thing. They were consenting adults and may have just felt like having some good old fashioned SEX.

I'm not saying that he was right to do whatever, but you have no idea what went on.

[bobnjersey]

[Those who suppor Letterman are amoral and have values. ]

and you're an idiot ... does that make it all even?

[ddkins]

Oops...I meant Gloria Allred.

[ddkins]

If he had hired Gloria Aldman to do his extortion for him, there would be no charges and he would have been paid a 6 figure amount.

[djseavy]

This whole case is the height of stupidity. Not only did the blackmail plan backfire, the TV ratings prove that most people don't really care about a celebrity's sex life, so long as it involves consenting adults. And to those people who reacted with shock and horror, the only ones who are entitled to those feelings are the people directly involved.