Former TV Weatherman Arrested For Sexual Extortion, And Police Say There May Be More Victims

Police in Virginia are looking for possible additional victims after a former TV weatherman was arrested for allegedly secretly filming a consensual sexual encounter for the purpose of extortion.

The Albemarle County Police Department on Wednesday said they opened a sexual extortion investigation on Feb. 28 after a victim came forward. The victim reported that after a consensual sexual encounter, they were extorted and threatened with the release of a video of the encounter filmed without their consent.

Following a lengthy investigation, investigators on April 9 obtained warrants for the arrest of 42-year-old Joshua W. Fitzpatrick, who had worked as a meteorologist for 29News in Charlottesville, Va., until early March.

Police learned Fitzpatrick relocated to Ohio shortly after they began their investigation, however. With assistance from law enforcement in Ohio, Fitzpatrick was arrested on April 22, and was being held in Ohio awaiting extradition to Virginia.

Fitzpatrick is charged with felony sexual extortion and unlawful creation of an image of another.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims. Police are asking anyone who may have had an encounter with Fitzpatrick to contact Detective M. Schneider with the Albemarle County Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 434-296-5807.