ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, April 18, 1997                 TAG: 9704180088
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-3  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: STAUNTON

ACTRESS PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER-FOR-HIRE TRY

A former soap opera actress caught on video and audio tape asking a handyman to kill her husband pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted murder for hire and was sentenced to one year in prison.

Catherine Ann Christianson, 40, who had a recurring role as a character named Jane in ``One Life to Live'' in 1991, sobbed as the 40-minute video of her meeting with Harold McLain was played in the courtroom. McLain worked for Christianson's husband, Charles R. Chittum, at his Christmas tree farm in Churchville.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

LENGTH: Short :   23 lines