JOHN MCTIERNAN - MCTIERNAN PLEADS GUILTY IN WIRETAPPING CASE

LATEST: Hollywood film-maker JOHN MCTIERNAN has pleaded guilty to lying to an FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) agent about hiring private detective ANTHONY PELLICANO to wiretap a business associate. The DIE HARD director, 55, pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal in a Los Angeles court on Monday (17APR06), after he was charged with enrolling Pellicano to spy on film producer CHARLES ROVEN, who co-financed 2002 flop ROLLERBALL with MCTiernan. Speaking in court yesterday, MCTiernan said, "In fact I had asked Anthony Pellicano to wiretap Charles Roven in the summer of 2000. "I spoke with him about it, I never received a report. After approximately two weeks, I paid him off and fired him." In March (06), MCTiernan told investigators he had no knowledge of Pellicano's wiretapping, but was charged with making a false statement earlier this month (APR06) and could face up to five years in prison if convicted. Pellicano, 61, is currently behind bars awaiting trial for the illegal wiretapping of powerful Hollywood stars, including actors SYLVESTER STALLONE and KEITH CARRADINE, comedian GARRY SHANDLING, and producer AARON RUSSO. He has pleaded not guilty.