Letterman Extortionist Sentenced To Prison Tuesday

The former CBS television producer who tried to extort $2 million from talk show host David Letterman over his affair with a staffer started a six-month prison term Tuesday afternoon, RadarOnline.com can report.

Robert "Joe" Halderman, 52, didn't speak before he was led from a Manhattan court in handcuffs to begin his sentence, to be followed by 1,000 hours of community service. 

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As part of a plea deal, Halderman pleaded guilty this past March to attempted grand larceny in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Letterman was not on hand for Halderman's sentencing Tuesday.

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As RadarOnline.com has previously reported, Letterman said on his October 1, 2009 broadcast that he had given testimony before a grand jury earlier that day about the extortion scheme; he told his audience that "I have had sex with women who work for me on this show."

Letterman said in an appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly last week that the affair "was stupid behavior," and discussed the fallout it has had on his life.

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"You take a look at the explosion, and it knocks you down and you wake up every morning and you're scared and you're depressed and sad, and you kind of got to let that knock you down and knock you down," he said.