Lynndie England will spend 11 years in prison

Defense attorneys are hoping a plea deal by Pfc. &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/mailbox/22/101/397/13620_torture.html ' target=_blank>Lynndie England will be accepted by an Army judge as the reservist whose image became synonymous with the Abu Ghraib prison scandal heads to court.

England, who appeared in some of the most graphic photographs depicting physical mistreatment and &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/364/14770_islam.html ' target=_blank>sexual humiliation of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison, was expected to plead guilty Monday.

England's civilian lawyer, Rick Hernandez, said last week that the 22-year-old Army reservist will plead guilty to two counts of conspiracy, four counts of maltreating prisoners and one count of dereliction of duty. In exchange, he said, prosecutors will drop charges of committing an indecent act and failure to obey a lawful order.

The plea agreement, which would come the day before England was scheduled to go to trial, lowers her maximum possible sentence from 16 1/2 years in prison to 11 years, tells ABC News.

f the plea is accepted by the Army judge, Colonel James Pohl, a panel of soldiers will determine her punishment after a sentencing hearing expected to last several days.

Lori Hernandez, assisting her husband on England’s defence team, said on Sunday no agreement has been reached that would limit England’s possible sentence. The New York Times, citing unnamed prosecution sources, said in Saturday editions that the plea deal included a 30-month cap.