RENO, Nev. — An ex-lover of Liberace who was the subject of an HBO film on the pianist’s life was sentenced to probation on identity-theft charges after lawyers argued over whether he could skip mandatory drug testing because he was already tested regularly at a Nevada brothel.

Washoe District Judge Patrick Flanagan on Wednesday sentenced Scott Thorson to eight to 20 years for burglary and ID theft but suspended the prison sentence.