A Fort Collins woman once married to the man accused of blackmailing television personality David Letterman said she’s “sad” about the situation.
“I love my children. He loves his children. We’re just sad that it happened,” Patty Montet told reporters Friday outside her southwest Fort Collins home before getting into a minivan with two boys.
Robert J. “Joe” Halderman, a producer for the true-crime show “48 Hours,” pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court Friday as he was arraigned on one count of attempted first-degree grand larceny, punishable by five to 15 years upon conviction. Bail was set at $200,000.
Prosecutors said Halderman was in debt but did not elaborate. He’s under a court order to pay $6,800 a month to support Montet and their two children, a boy and a girl.
He is accused of trying to extort $2 million from Letterman, who acknowledged on his show Thursday night that he had sex with women who worked for him.
Montet divorced Halderman in 2004. He was ordered in 2007 to pay Montet $6,800 per month in child and spousal support until May 2011, when the payments will be reduced to $5,966 until May 2014, according to papers filed in Stamford Superior Court in Connecticut.
Montet declined to answer any other questions Friday but asked the media to “please respect my children.”
Larimer County property records show that Montet bought her southwest Fort Collins home in May. Hers is the only name listed on the deed.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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