Pellicano convicted again on Wiretapping charges

Private detective Anthony Pellicano, who worked for Hollywood stars in the past and Terry Christensen, a reputed attorney were convicted on Friday on charges of wiretapping Lisa Bonder, ex-wife of billionaire Kirk Kerkorian.

They were held guilty by a federal jury after a six-week trial.

Christensen, the popular name of Hollywood’s legal world, had represented Kerkorian in a bitter child support battle, in 2002. According to prosecutors, he went beyond limits by listening in on the phone conversations of Lisa Bonder Kerkorian, while she was demanding $320,000 in monthly child support for her then-4-year-old daughter.

By recording her phone conversations Pellicano and Christensen were attempting to contradict Bonder’s claims that MGM mogul Kirk Kerkorian was the father of her daughter.

"This case uncovered corruption by the wealthy and influential, and today's guilty verdicts render assurance that the justice system cannot be bought by those with money and power," said Salvador Hernandez, assistant director in charge of the FBI in Los Angeles.

The guilty face up to 10 years in prison and $500,000 in fines, when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer. They will be sentenced on November 17.

However, Christensen's attorney and law partner Patricia Glaser is planning to contest the accusations. "We don't agree with the jury," said Patricia Glaser, Christensen's attorney and law partner,” she said. "We're disappointed. We will be appealing on a myriad of issues and we are going to fight this all the way."

Kerkorian, 91, testified in the case on August 20, and said he had no knowledge of Bonder's calls being tapped. A DNA test eventually proved that Kerkorian was not the biological father of Bonder’s child.

This is the second time that Pellicano, 64, has been charged with illegal wiretapping and racketeering, this year. Earlier in May, he was convicted of unlawfully obtaining information to help some wealthy clients.

In that case, Pellicano was convicted of 76 charges and once he gets sentenced, it is expected that he will spend the rest of his life in prison.