Mendte Slammed With House Arrest, Fine
Former TV anchor learns the cost of Web spying
Updated 7:19 AM EST, Tue, Nov 25, 2008
Former Philadelphia TV anchor Larry Mendte has learned his fate for spying on his co-workers computers.
Mendte was snooping on former CBS 3 co-anchor Alycia Lane's emails and releasing personal information about her to the media.
His punishment for his evil ways?
- Six months house arrest -- he must wear an electronic monitoring device
- $5,000 fine
- 250 hours of community service
- Three years probation
- Special filtering device on his personal computer
- No contact with Lane
Mendte, 51, had pleaded guilty to one felony count of intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization and obtaining information, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Laurie Magid.
He had accessed Lane's emails thousands of times according to prosecutors.
Lane fired back at Mendte in September by filing a suit in the Common Pleas Court. Lane accuses Mendte of invading her privacy and helping to cause her demise by leaking information to the press.
Lane remained silent before and after the proceedings allowing her lawyer Paul Rosen to do the speaking for her.
"Alycia never sought publicity for her private life... The only public life she wanted was her news anchor career. Larry Mendte's criminal conduct destroyed that career and made her a tabloid feeding frenzy," said Rosen.
Mendte was fired from CBS 3 in June. Mendte worked at Philly's NBC10 for six years prior to moving to WKYW.
Click here to read the entire indictment against Mendte.
You can hear the entire court proceedings below:
- Part 1 - Court Opening: Judge explains why they are there.
- Part 2 – Mendte’s wife Dawn Stensland delivers a tearful statement to the court.
- Part 3 – Stensland continues her statement.
- Part 4 – Stensland finishes her statement; Mendte’s lawyer gives statement.
- Part 5 – Mendte’s lawyer continues his statement to the court.
- Part 6 – Mendte speaks to the court…says he is grateful that Lane is present in court so he can apologize.
- Part 7 – Federal council speaks about the nature and seriousness of the offense.
- Part 8 – Judge describes what evidence has been presented; Proposes sentence.
- Part 9 – Court imposes sentence; Explains terms of house arrest, electronic monitoring device.
- Part 10 – Court Closing: Judge says Mendte is lucky for family, friends; Wishes Lane the best.
First Published: Nov 24, 2008 4:00 PM EST
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