Halderman Pleads Guilty In Letterman's Case: Gets Jail Time

by Yuliya Talmazan | March 9, 2010 at 03:01 pm

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Halderman Pleads Guilty

Robert Halderman, a former CBS producer, pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny for blackmailing Late Show host David Letterman over an alleged affair with his staff. Halderman demanded $2 million for his silence in a money extortion scheme. The former producer found out about Letterman's affair from the diary of his ex-girlfriend Stephanie Birkitt. Letterman chose to disclose his affair on-air. A fake check was handed to Halderman instead. He was caught while trying to deposit the check into his bank account. Halderman initially pleaded not guilty in October.

The Legal Definition Of "Grand Larceny"

The charge of grand larceny implies a crime of theft of another's property or money over a statutorily defined value, as distinguished from petty (or petit) larceny, in which the value is below the grand larceny limit.

Halderman's Punishment

The guilty plea will only see Halderman serve six months in prison and perform 1000 hours of community service. He also has to give up his right to appeal the case. He would face up to 15 years in jail had he stood trial. Halderman's sentencing will take place in May.

Halderman apologized and sounded remorseful in his guilty plea:

"I apologize to Mr. Letterman, to his family, to (girlfriend) Stephanie Birkitt and her family, and my family and friends," said Halderman, who left without answering questions.

"This so-called treatment was just a thinly veiled threat to ruin Mr Letterman if he did not pay me a lot of money," Mr Halderman admitted to the court.