Former VA Weatherman Arrested, Facing Charges

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, VA — A former TV weatherman from Virginia is facing felony sexual extortion charges after authorities said he fled the state and was later arrested in Ohio.

Joshua W. Fitzpatrick, 42, of Charlottesville, was arrested this week and also charged with unlawfully creating an image of another person following an incident that occurred earlier this year, according to the Albemarle County Police Department.

On Feb. 28, Albemarle County authorities began a sexual extortion investigation after a victim reported that after a consensual sexual encounter, they were extorted and threatened with the release of a video taken unknowingly and without their consent.

Following that investigation, Albemarle police obtained warrants for Fitzpatrick, but later learned he had relocated to Ohio, authorities said.

With the assistance of law enforcement in Ohio, Fitzpatrick was arrested on Tuesday, police said. He is currently being held in Ohio, awaiting extradition to Virginia.

Fitzpatrick worked as a meteorologist for WVIR-TV in Charlottesville, according to the station. He left the position in March.

He also worked for stations including WSAZ-TV and WOAY-TV in West Virginia, according to his LinkedIn profile.

An extradition hearing for Fitzpatrick was set for Thursday morning, but he was unavailable for medical reasons, according to county records cited by NBC News. A lawyer for Fitzpatrick did not respond to an NBC News request for comment.

Following Fitzpatrick's arrest, police believe there may be additional victims and are urging them to come forward. Anyone who may have had an encounter with Fitzpatrick is asked to contact Detective M. Schneider with the Albemarle County Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division at 434-296-5807.