Pellicano convicted in wiretapping case

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Private investigator Anthony Pellicano and lawyer Terry Christensen were convicted Friday in a Los Angeles court of conspiring to illegally wiretap a woman.

Both were charged with two felony counts in connection with the alleged wiretap of casino mogul Kirk Kerkorian's ex-wife Lisa Bonder Kerkorian.

Christensen, Kirk Kerkorian's attorney, was accused of paying Pellicano to eavesdrop on the phone conversations of Lisa Bonder Kerkorian during a child support dispute.

The Los Angeles Times said a federal jury found them guilty Friday. The convictions were the result of an FBI investigation into Pellicano's business, which catered to the rich and famous.

He was found guilty in May of another 76 counts, which included racketeering, wire fraud and computer fraud, in addition to wiretapping.

Friday's convictions are not expected to lengthen the time Pellicano spends behind bars, a sentence which is estimated to be about 10 years, The Times said.

However, Christensen faces a possible prison term, as well as the probable loss of his license to practice law, the newspaper noted.

His defense attorney, Patricia Glaser, insisted there are "tons of issues" to justify an appeal.

"We don't agree with the jury," The Times quoted her as saying. "We'll fight this all the way."