New York ( CNN ) -- Robert `` Joe '' Halderman , the former CBS News producer accused of trying to blackmail comedian David Letterman , agreed Tuesday to plead guilty to attempted second-degree grand larceny in exchange for six months in jail , five years probation and 1,000 hours of community service . `` This is a serious sentence that properly reflects the crimes that Mr. Halderman has now admitted that he committed , and it is a fitting end to the case , '' said Letterman lawyer Daniel J. Horwitz . During Tuesday 's taping of his `` Late Night '' show , Letterman expressed gratitude and relief that the matter is over . `` Now , I 'd never been involved in anything like this in my life , and I was concerned and full of anxiety and nervous and worried , '' he said . `` And the people in the district attorney 's office said , 'This will be handled professionally , this will be handled skillfully , and appropriately . ' Well , the matter was resolved today , and they were exactly right -- it was handled professionally , skillfully and appropriately . '' The 62-year-old singled out District Attorney of Manhattan Cyrus Vance Jr. , former District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau , the Special Prosecutions Bureau in the district attorney 's office and the New York City Police Department . Formal sentencing is slated for May 4 . In a separate statement , the former `` 48 Hours '' producer admitted that he tried to extort $ 2 million from Letterman to keep quiet about the `` Late Show '' host 's sexual affairs . `` On the morning of September 9 , 2009 , I gave a sealed envelope to Mr. Letterman 's driver as he waited outside of Mr. Letterman 's Manhattan home , '' Halderman said in the statement , called an allocution . `` I asked the driver to give the envelope marked 'Privileged and Confidential ' to Mr. Letterman . `` The envelope contained a number of documents , including a document I created entitled 'Treatment for a Screenplay . ' This so-called treatment was just a thinly veiled threat to ruin Mr. Letterman if he did not pay me a lot of money . `` Later that month , on three different occasions I met with Mr. Letterman 's lawyer , Jim Jackoway , to work out the details of the extortion . On October 1 , 2009 , I deposited a check for $ 2 million that Mr. Jackoway gave me . `` I knew throughout this time that I was not engaged in a legitimate business transaction with Mr. Letterman and that what I was doing was against New York law . I understand that my attempt to extort $ 2 million from Mr. Letterman violated his and his family 's privacy . I promise to respect their privacy in the future . '' Then-District Attorney Morgenthau said Letterman gave Halderman a $ 2 million check in October and Halderman deposited the money into a Connecticut bank account the day before he was arrested . Halderman was released from jail on $ 200,000 bail in October . Letterman announced the extortion plot on his CBS show in October and admitted to affairs with female staffers . Halderman closed his statement by expressing `` great remorse '' and apologizing to Letterman and his family and to the family of Stephanie Birkitt , one of the women Halderman said had engaged in a sexual relationship with Letterman . Birkitt was an assistant to the talk show host and a former live-in girlfriend of Halderman . The 27-year CBS veteran had initially been charged with first-degree attempted grand larceny , to which he pleaded not guilty in October . He could have faced 15 years in prison if convicted on the charge . CNN 's Julian Cummings contributed to this story .
Robert `` Joe '' Halderman says police , prosecutors were professional , skillful . With plea , David Letterman will get five years ' in jail , six months probation . Halderman pleads guilty to attempted grand larceny in the second degree . Ex-CBS news producer admitted to trying to extort 200,000 from Letterman .