Miss Lane And Mister Mendte

A friend in Europe writes in with news of the BBC’s coverage of Larry Mendte Sentencing Day, America’s greatest new holiday. She writes:

This was listed in the “other top stories” section of bbcnews.com, right along side “IMF approves aid to Pakistan” and “Obama pledges jolt to economy.” Definitely in the same news league…

Definitely! News of Larry Mendte’s house arrest sent the stock market tumbling. Or soaring, whatever it did yesterday. And the way the story is worded (e.g., “Miss Lane”) is so proper and British; it’s adorable.

A former US TV news presenter who hacked into a rival’s e-mail and leaked gossip to the press has been sentenced to six months under house arrest.

Larry Mendte, 51, was also handed 250 hours of community service and a $5,000 (£3,300) fine. He was sacked in June. [...]

Mendte apologised to Miss Lane, who was present for the sentencing. She provided a confidential statement which was given to the court but made no public comment.

You know what I’d really like to see? That confidential statement. Now if only there were some way to get Alycia Lane’s password and read her confidential communication. Hmm…

US TV anchor convicted of hacking [BBC]

Ben Franklin Supports Larry Mendte

Buried near the end of Regina Medina’s recap of Larry Mendte Sentencing Day in today’s Daily News is this little nugget about who sent letters to the judge in support of ol’ Larry:

Letters of support for Mendte had been sent to the court by his therapist; his colleagues, such as NBC 10 sports director and anchor Vai Sikahema; and even Ben Franklin portrayer Ralph Archbold.

Do you think it was written in faux old-timey prose like the signs at the Betsy Ross House? (”I, Benjamin Franklin, hath no idea what this ‘Inter-net’ is, but Larry hath a good heart!”) I’m letting you know right now: If I ever get arrested, I’m calling out for support from the Phillie Phanatic, Swoop, Hip-Hop, Lil’ G and Big Shot.

Mendte to Lane: I did wrong [Daily News]

Inquirer Really Going All Out On Mendte Coverage

Are you following the the Larry Mendte sentencing feed from the Inquirer?! If not, I believe you can see from the above why you need to be on it right now.

Update, 3:15 p.m.: Silent for 8 minutes!! Larry Mendte must have hacked the account to prevent it from updating anymore.

Update, 3:16 p.m.: Phew, back!! The tension there was so palpable I need to get a drink.

Update, 3:50 p.m.: “Mendte gets 3 years probation, 6 months home confinement, 250 hours community service, computer monitoring plus a fine.” Ha ha, computer monitoring!

Happy Larry Mendte Sentencing Day!

Hey, everybody! Just when we had all finally forgotten about the saga of Alycia Lane, Larry Mendte and some stolen emails, Larry Mendte’s sentencing day sneaks up on us!

Yes, today Mendte will (probably) apologize in court and get probation and maybe some community service. He could technically get up to 5 years. He’s also a convicted felon! (He still gets to vote, though, I believe.)

This morning Good Day Philadelphia had on some defense lawyer who chatted with Jennaphr Frederick for a short while about the Lane case and then went off on Alycia Lane for 2-3 minutes and listed every single possibly wrong thing she had ever done in her life. One of the things was “suing some people and wanting to sue some other people.” Isn’t that the American Dream?

After her spiel Frederick said something like, “Oh. We’re all feeling for Dawn Stensland.” Indeed, we are.

So: Sentencing, later today. Let’s root for him to get put in the stocks!

Sentencing Day for TV Anchor Larry Mendte [KYW 1060]

Masons DO Rule The World

There’s so much in the Alycia Lane lawsuit against Larry Mendte, KYW and Dan Gross to parse just this instant, but deep in the Inquirer’s story is the best part, by far. Emphasis mine:

The lawsuit also describes the aftermath of Lane’s arrest Dec. 17. With Lane in lockup and her cell phone in a taxi, her boyfriend, Booker, was frantically calling people.

Disputing a story reported last December, the suit says that Booker - not Lane - called Gov. Rendell to seek the name of a New York attorney. The suit says Booker knew that Rendell was a former district attorney, a native New Yorker - and like Booker - a Mason. Booker left a message with Rendell, the suit says. In the interim, Booker secured a lawyer.

Man, what a club. Ed Rendell and Chris Booker? It’s the kind of thing that makes a guy want to join the Knights of Columbus.

Lane suit details Mendte gossip [Inquirer]
KYW, Mendte, DN sued by Alycia Lane [Daily News]