A federal judge sentenced prominent entertainment attorney Terry Christensen to three years in prison and fined him $250,000 Monday for conspiring to illegally wiretap the ex-wife of billionaire Kirk Kerkorian.

The longtime friend and attorney of Kerkorian was found guilty in August of conspiracy to commit wiretapping, and aiding and abetting a wiretap during a bitter child support battle with Lisa Bonder Kerkorian. He had hired private sleuth Anthony Pellicano to intercept and record the phone calls of Bonder Kerkorian. Pellicano also was convicted in the case of various felonies, including conspiracy.

Earlier this month, federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Court Judge Dale Fischer to sentence Christensen to three years in prison, and fine him $500,000. The defense had asked the judge to follow a probation officer’s recommedation of house arrest and a $500,000 fine.

Since his conviction, Christensen retired from practicing law, and his name was removed from the Century City firm he founded, Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs & Shapiro LLP. Christensen plans to appeal his sentence, and will remain free on bail pending the appeal.