Charlottesville, Virginia, isn’t the kind of place you expect a scandal to erupt, but on April 16, a former local TV weatherman, Joshua Fitzpatrick, found himself in handcuffs, accused of a crime that sounds ripped from a gritty crime novel. The 33-year-old, once a familiar face on 29News delivering forecasts with a smile, now faces felony charges of sexual extortion after allegedly trying to blackmail a woman with a secretly recorded sex tape.
The story broke when Albemarle County police announced Fitzpatrick’s arrest, detailing a scheme that unfolded with cold calculation. According to court documents, Fitzpatrick recorded a consensual encounter without the woman’s knowledge. Then, he turned predator, threatening to leak the video to her friends, family, and employer unless she paid up. The amount? Undisclosed, but enough to push the victim to contact authorities, who moved fast to shut it down. Police say Fitzpatrick’s threats were explicit, sent through messages that left no doubt about his intent to humiliate and extort.
Fitzpatrick’s fall from grace stunned the tight-knit community. He’d been a staple on CBS19, charming viewers with his easygoing style before leaving the station in 2023. But behind the polished on-air persona, investigators say, was a man orchestrating a twisted plot. The arrest affidavit paints a grim picture: Fitzpatrick allegedly used his tech savvy to ensure the video was a ticking time bomb, ready to detonate the victim’s life if she didn’t comply. Detectives seized his devices, and forensic teams are now combing through them for evidence.
The case has sent ripples through Charlottesville, where locals are grappling with the betrayal of a once-trusted figure. On April 17, Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jessica G. Hall issued a statement confirming the charges, emphasizing that the case is active and urging anyone with information to come forward. Fitzpatrick was booked into the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, where he’s being held without bond. His first court appearance, set for April 22, was brief, with a judge appointing a public defender and scheduling a preliminary hearing for June.
The charges carry serious weight. In Virginia, sexual extortion is a Class 5 felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison and fines reaching $100,000. Prosecutors are tight-lipped about additional details, but court filings hint at a meticulous investigation, with police cross-referencing text messages, IP addresses, and metadata to build an airtight case. The victim, whose identity is protected, has cooperated fully, though she’s said to be devastated by the ordeal.
Charlottesville’s newsrooms, usually buzzing about local politics or UVA sports, are now dissecting Fitzpatrick’s downfall. His former colleagues at 29News declined to comment, but a station spokesperson confirmed he hasn’t been affiliated with them since his departure two years ago. On X, official posts from the Albemarle County Police Department reiterated the arrest details, asking the public to respect the victim’s privacy while the case moves forward.
Fitzpatrick’s next court date is June 10, when prosecutors will lay out their evidence. Until then, he remains behind bars, his once-bright career reduced to a cautionary tale. The community, meanwhile, is left picking up the pieces, wondering how a man who predicted storms on TV could brew such a dark one off-screen.