Polish spy gets 'life' for spilling US secrets

Polish spy Marian Zacharski has been sentenced to life in prison by a federal judge, who said the sensitive US defense secrets he gave to the Communists could lead to the loss of many American lives.

A former aerospace engineer, William Holden Bell, was also sentenced to eight years in prison and fined $10,000 for selling defense secrets to Zacharski. Bell pleaded guilty to the charge in a plea-bargain arrangement.

Assistant US Attorney Robert S. Brewer said that perhaps the most sensitive information Bell passed to Zacharski involved a sophisticated antitank weapon and a highly advanced radar system.

Attorneys for both sides said they were aware of reports of a possible spy trade.