Stupid people make me happy. Because they make me feel superior, and thus better about myself. If you were one of the reasonably rational people who assumed David Letterman’s attempted extortionist would make a plea deal, you’d be wrong. Because he is stupid on so many levels, Robert “Joe” Halderman is proceeding straight ahead with his trial. Well, after his equally stupid lawyer tried to get his case thrown out because he claimed Halderman wasn’t trying to extort Letterman, but really was trying to sell him a screenplay about his affair. Thus, it was just a business transaction. Can you believe the judge didn’t go for that? Anyway, the trial is marching onwards.

Just when it was becoming possible to watch the “Late Show with David Letterman” without thinking about the host’s extortion scandal, the case is back in the news.

Robert “Joe” Halderman, the CBS news producer accused of attempting to extort $2 million from Letterman, is due to appear in a Manhattan court Tuesday for the first hearing in the criminal case against him. Before even entering the courtroom, Halderman (who will likely appear, although Letterman probably won’t) was making news.

The New York Observer reported that since his Oct. 2 indictment, he’s raised $100,000 for his defense fund, which would seem to indicate that he won’t be taking any plea deal from the prosecution. If Halderman is found guilty of attempted grand larceny, he could face up to 15 years in state prison. Tuesday’s hearing will likely tackle the mundane issues involved with scheduling future proceedings, but don’t rule out some headline-making from Halderman’s attorney, according to NBC legal analyst Dan Abrams.

“The judge will address any legal issues in front of him, like what sort of evidence the defense is entitled to and when,” said Abrams. “In large part, however, they will assess what the broader legal questions are that need to be resolved and likely set dates for future proceedings. Watch for defense attorney Gerry Shargel, however, to continue his public assault on Letterman’s character. He may also try to make it seem as if he wants to move forward with a trial whether that is true or not. So don’t expect any grand revelations but based on the way Shargel has behaved already, I would not be surprised to hear some theatrics from the defense.”

[From MSNBC]

The angle of it being a legitimate business transaction didn’t work with the judge in terms of getting the case thrown out, but I’d bet that’s still going to be the defense’s argument. I can’t imagine what else they could come up with: there’s only so much creative brainpower between these two. Frankly, from a purely tactical point of view, I’m sort of impressed two boneheads managed to come up with the legit business angle. I mean it’s obvious bull and no one will buy it for a second, but any angle whatsoever is pretty shocking to me.

It’s going to suck for Halderman when he ends up doing the full 15 years. I think he’s genuinely so angry at Letterman that he believes his anger justifies what he did, and the jury will agree with him. If he had any sense whatsoever, he probably could have pleaded out to just a few years.

Here’s Robert Halderman outside of Manhattan Criminal Court today. Images thanks to WENN.com .