AceShowbiz - The U.S. TV producer accused of blackmailing comedian David Letterman has been sentenced to six months in jail and five years probation after pleading guilty to one count of grand larceny in the second degree. TV producer Robert Halderman was charged with attempted first degree grand larceny in October 2009 after reportedly threatening to expose "Late Show with David Letterman" presenter's affairs with employees unless Letterman paid $2 million to silence him.

Halderman, who was immediately suspended from his job as producer of CBS news show "48 Hours", claimed he was simply selling the star a "screenplay proposal relating to Letterman's poor conduct" in a failed bid to get the case dismissed in January. Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon ruled Halderman's would stand trial before a jury. However, Halderman struck a deal with prosecutors, and entered the guilty plea on March 9.

Under the terms of the deal, Halderman will also serve 1,000 hours of community service. Outside court, the producer told reporters, "I apologize to Mr. Letterman and his family ... and certainly to my friends and family."