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A former entertainment industry executive has been placed on three years' probation for wiretapping his ex-employer, FX, while he was working for two other TV production companies.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Norman J. Shapiro also ordered Randolph Steve Webster, 38, to pay $22,607 in legal costs at a sentencing hearing Tuesday.

The Los Angeles D.A.'s office said Webster started wiretapping FX conference calls after the company terminated him in July 2001 and wiretapped or attempted to wiretap 260 weekly staff meetings of FX execs. During that time, Webster worked as a Sony Pictures VP and then as a VP for Universal Television Group; he's no longer employed by either company.

The D.A.'s office served a search warrant on Webster's home and office in February, and he was charged with a felony count in July. He issued a no-contest plea in September.