'Die Hard' director can change plea

John McTiernan granted new hearing

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

McTiernan

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) "Die Hard" director John McTiernan will have a chance to withdraw his guilty plea in a Hollywood wiretapping case that got him sentenced to four months in federal prison.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ordered a new hearing on McTiernan's motion, which a judge rejected last year.

McTiernan, who is free on bail, pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI about his association with disgraced private eye Anthony Pellicano.

Pellicano was convicted of bugging phones of celebrities and others to get information for his clients.

McTiernan, who has admitted he paid Pellicano to conduct an illegal wiretap, argued he had inadequate legal representation when he made the plea.