Sergeant pleads guilty to abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — A U.S. Army staff sergeant pleaded guilty Wednesday to abusing Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison, telling a military court that prisoners were forced to submit to public nudity and degrading treatment "for military intelligence purposes."

Army reservist Ivan "Chip" Frederick, 38, of Buckingham, Va., confessed to eight counts of conspiracy, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault and committing an indecent act. He was expected to be sentenced today and could receive 11 years in prison.

A military policeman who is a corrections officer in civilian life, Frederick is the highest-ranking soldier charged in the scandal, which broke in April with the publication of photos and videos showing American troops abusing and humiliating naked Iraqi detainees.