David Letterman Extortionist Released from Jail Early

By Michelle Ward

09/02/2010 at 02:00 PM EDT

After pleading guilty to grand larceny for his attempt to extort $2 million from David Letterman in return for remaining silent about the TV host's office affairs, Robert "Joe" Halderman was released from prison Thursday, having served only four months of his six-month sentence due to good behavior.

Halderman, 51, still has 1,000 hours of community service and five years' probation ahead of him.

"He's doing okay," his lawyer Gerald Shargel told PEOPLE after Halderman's release from Rikers Island in New York. "He was fine and expressed appreciation and he is glad it is behind him and that he survived it well and he's looking for work. He's a talented producer."

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The Emmy-nominated, former CBS 48 Hours producer was also married right before he began his jail sentence, his rep confirmed.

Although it remains to be seen if Halderman will return to Connecticut with his new bride, he hopes to continue working in TV. Said Shargel, "Yes that's his strength and [in] his field there are plenty of people who have had rocks in the road and got past it and went on to lead [a] meaningful life, and I expect that will happen in his life."

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