ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) _ An Indiana electrician who taught federal job applicants how to beat lie-detector tests has been sentenced to eight months in prison.
 
Chad Dixon of Marion, Ind., pleaded guilty in December to wire fraud and obstructing a government proceeding in conjunction with his business, Polygraph Consultants of America.
 
Federal prosecutors in Alexandria said Dixon taught dozens of people, including applicants to be federal border guards, how to successfully lie during a polygraph exam.

At Friday's sentencing hearing, Dixon's lawyer argued that teaching people how to lie on a polygraph is protected by the First Amendment. She said Dixon's only crime was explicitly advising prospective federal employees that they should lie about having received his training.
 
Dixon's lawyer said the case appears to be the first of its kind in the country.