In this seven-minute video, Larry Mendte issues an apology and an explanation (or motivation, as he calls it) regarding the recent events of the “mutually self-destructing feud” between him and his former co-anchor, Alycia Lane.

Mendte pleaded guilty in federal court Friday on a single count of hacking into Lane’s accounts.

In this video from Fox29, Mendte acknowledges a “flirtatious” relationship with Lane when she arrived in town five years ago. The “long dinners” and “late nights” ended abruptly when his wife, Fox29 anchor Dawn Stensland, discovered the relationship in 2005.

For the full video, visit philly.com.

Mendte did not use the word “affair” in his statement. He apologized to his wife and family, viewers and to Alycia Lane.

Mendte will be sentenced in late November and will likely face zero to six months in jail.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKQakMe1f8c 350 292]

Larry Mendte has pleaded guilty to one felony count of hacking into Alycia Lane’s e-mail inbox.

Supported by a dozen family members inside court, including his wife, Fox29 anchor Dawn Stensland, Mendte was quiet as he left the courthouse. Stensland did have one thing to say:

I love my husband, and he’s a good man.

Though Mendte could face up to six months in jail, federal prosecutors agreed not to discuss sentencing at today’s brief hearing.

After hearing an assistant U.S. attorney recount the government evidence of his hacking into Lane’s account more than 500 times, Mendte verbally acknowledged the evidence.

From the Inqy:

Mendte told the judge that he was “a little nervous, your honor, but I feel okay” as she sought to make sure that Mendte wanted to plead guilty and was legally competent to do so.

Apparently, he also acknowledged he’s been seeing a therapist since the entire scandal erupted.

Photo by Chris Stover

The saga continues. Who’da thought?

Larry Mendte has been charged with one felony count of intentionally accessing a protected computer without autorization and thereby obtaining information in furtherance of a tortious act.

In other words, he allegedly snooped in Alycia Lane’s e-mail account and leaked information — especially that between her and her lawyer — to an unnamed Daily News reporter, who will not be charged.

The information says Mendte allegedly logged into Lane’s personal e-mail accounts (Yahoo! and .mac) from his KYW, home and vacation home computers at least 537 times between Jan. 1, 2008, and May 28, 2008, the day the FBI seized his computer from his Chestnut Hill residence.

The information is available here. It’s an entertaining read and gives people unfamiliar with the entire situation (all two of you) the story from Alycia Lane’s initial arrest in December 2007.

Mendte could face between zero to six months of jail time, but most people in a philly.com poll think he’ll just receive a “slap on the wrist.”

CBS3 released a statement saying their lead anchor, Larry Mendte, will not be seen on air “pending further investigations.”

This follows published reports that claim Mendte is at the center of an FBI investigation into his involvement in the possible snooping of former co-anchor Alycia Lane’s e-mail.  Just like listening in on a phone call, hacking in e-mail is a federal crime.

Mendte is still on the station’s Web site and is still an employee of CBS3. No word on whether Lane’s replacement, Susan Barnett, will have a temporary fill-in co-anchor.

It’s Larry Mendte’s turn.

Philly.com and Channel 6 are the first to report that the main anchor on CBS3 is at the center of an FBI probe for possibly snooping on former co-anchor Alycia Lane.

Mendte’s personal computer has been confiscated and officials told CBS3 not to destroy any work files.  The probe is looking into the possibility that Mendte snooped in Lane’s personal e-mail account, which is considered a federal crime.

Mendte’s attorney says FBI agents approached Mendte Thursday on allegations allegedly made by Lane.  Lane’s attorney denies such comments.

CBS3 is cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s office.  In a statement, the station said, “Late this week CBS3 became aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding anchor Larry Mendte. CBS3 is cooperating fully with that office in this investigation.”

Mendte’s current co-anchor Susan Barnett was on the air solo Friday night. According to Philly.com, he showed up for work Friday but suddenly left. And yes, his bio is still on CBS3’s Web site, as linked to above.

Please note that a report like this and those on other media would only occur in a media-obsessed town like Philadelphia.  It’s a crazy city in which we live.

Photos courtesy 6abc.com.