Dateline: 07/15/02

In a surprise agreement that will send him to prison for 20 years, but save him from a life sentence, John Walker Lindh, captured soldiering for the Taliban in Afghanistan, has pleaded guilty to two federal charges.

Lindh, a 21-year-old California native, was captured by U.S. and coalition forces on Nov. 25, 2001 and held at a makeshift prison near Mazar-e Sharif. When prisoners revolted later the same day, Lindh was wounded in the leg and CIA agent Mike Spann was killed fighting to put down the revolt.

The two charges to which Lindh agreed to plead guilty will send him to federal prison for 20 years. He could, however be eligible for parole in 17 years with good behavior, according to his attorney.

The two charges to which Lindh pleaded guilty were:

• Providing material, support and resources to al Qaeda (Ten year sentence)
• Using, carrying and possessing firearms and destructive devices during crimes of violence (Ten year sentence)

In return, the government dropped eight charges against Lindh:

• Conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals 
• Conspiracy to provide material, support and resources to foreign terrorist organizations 
• Providing material support and resources to foreign terrorist organizations 
• Conspiracy to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda 
• Conspiracy to contribute services to al Qaeda 
• Contributing services to al Qaeda 
• Conspiracy to provide services to the Taliban 
• Providing services to the Taliban
  (The dropped charges could have carried a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole.)

Government pleased with deal
Commenting on the plea bargain, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft told reporters, "As part of the agreement Lindh agreed to cooperate fully with the government including to provide information and testify if necessary at trials or other proceedings, including military tribunals." 

CNN reported that negotiations on the plea bargain, started six weeks ago and that President Bush had approved of the deal.

U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty, who had prosecuted the case told reporters the government was pleased with the bargain, because it requires Lindh to undergo polygraph tests and to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations into the Taliban, al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

"He's happy to cooperate in any way he can," James Brosnahan, Walker Lindh's attorney is quoted by CNN. "He doesn't know a lot, but whatever they want to know, he'll talk to them. And he's glad to do it."

Lindh also agreed to drop all charges of mistreatment against the U.S. government and to forfeit any future profit that may come from selling his story. All profits will go to the U.S. government, according to Lindh's attorneys.

Lindh's attorneys released a prepared statement saying "The plea agreement makes clear Mr. Lindh never bore nor currently bears allegiance to al Qaeda, Harakat al-Mujahideen, or any other terrorist organization. In addition, Mr. Lindh bears no allegiance to the Taliban."

Father of slain CIA agent expresses disappointment 
Dropping the charge of conspiring to murder U.S. nationals renders Lindh immune from prosecution for his involvement in the death of U.S. CIA agent Mike Spann, killed during a Nov. 25, 2001 enemy prisoner revolt, in which Lindh was reported to have taken part.

Following the announcement of the plea bargain, Johnny Spann, Mike Spann's father was quoted by CNN as stating, "My son and all those who are serving overseas have been let down by this decision."

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