Letterman Extortionist To Plead Guilty Tuesday
March 9 2010, Published 8:10 a.m. ET
Robert Halderman the television producer at the center of the $2 million David Letterman extortion plot is expected to plead guilty to second degree larceny at Manhattan Supreme Court Tuesday, RadarOnline.com has learned.
The CBS producer – who was driven by jealousy after finding-out his girlfriend Stephanie Birkett was sleeping with Letterman – is expected to be sentenced to six months in jail as well as being ordered to do 1000 hours of community service and serve four an a half years probation as part of a deal with prosecutors.
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Halderman, 51, is expected to make a brief statement during the pleas hearing and it is expected that he will admit intentionally extorting the talk show host.
He allegedly shook down the married Letterman, 61, last fall by demanding $2 million as payment for a purported "screenplay" that was about a late-night TV talk show host who slept with his female employees.
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Halderman penned the script after spotting Letterman making out in the driveway of the journalist's Norwalk, Conn., home with Birkitt, who was both an employee of the "Late Show," as well as Halderman's live-in girlfriend.
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The journalist then left the screenplay in Letterman's limousine, along with copies of excerpts from Birkitt's personal diaries. In subsequent negotiations with Letterman's lawyers, Halderman asked for and received a check for $2 million for the script.
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But the check turned out to be a fake, and Halderman was busted by authorities who had been monitoring his talks with Letterman's lawyer after being notified of the extortion effort.
VIDEO: Letterman Admits To Having Sex With Staffers
After Halderman was arrested, Letterman shocked millions of TV viewers by revealing both the blackmail, as well as the fact that he had slept with unnamed female employees.
"No, I'm not having sex" with any staff members currently, Letterman said that night. "You can't be victimized by criminals."
Letterman's spokesman had no immediate comment - Halderman's lawyer, Gerald Shargel, declined to comment.
With credit for good behavior, the shamed producer is expected to be released from jail after just four months.