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SALT LAKE CITY -
Wanda Barzee, accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart from her bedroom back in 2002, has struck a plea bargain with federal prosecutors. Barzee, 64, entered guilty pleas to federal charges of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines during a hearing in U.S. District Court on Tuesday.
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"I am greatly humbled as I realize how much Elizabeth Smart has been victimized and the role I played in it," Barzee said. "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth, for all the pain and suffering I caused you and your family. It is my hope you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me."
As part of the plea deal, Barzee will likely be sentenced to serve 15 years in prison, with credit for the six years she has already been behind bars. In January, she is expected to plead guilty to a state charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court.
"We wanted to enter into a resolution that addresses both cases," said Alicia Cook, a deputy Salt Lake District Attorney prosecuting the case for the state.
Barzee will also cooperate with prosecutors in the pending case against her husband, Brian David Mitchell.
"Wanda is a person, who is a different person than the person who was arrested," her attorney, Scott Williams, said outside of court. "The person she is now is someone who wants to accept responsibility, and cooperate, appropriately, in the legal process."
Barzee was recently declared competent to stand trial for kidnapping after being forcibly medicated in a series of controversial court decisions. Mitchell has been declared incompetent, and faces a hearing in federal court at the end of this month about his mental state and whether he should be forced to stand trial.
In court on Tuesday, Barzee sat quietly, turning once to face her mother and smiling. She got emotional as the judge read the list of rights she would be waiving in the plea deal. Finally, she softly answered "guilty" when asked to enter a plea to the charges.
Elizabeth Smart's father, Ed, said the family was supportive of the plea.
"I hope Wanda realizes what she did," he said. "It was absolutely horrible and that (her) as a mother, I'm absolutely overwhelmed she was able to do something like that."
Smart told Fox 13 News outside of court that he considered Barzee a victim of Mitchell as much as Elizabeth was, but that she "made a choice." He said his daughter has already forgiven Barzee, as has the rest of the family.
Elizabeth Smart testified against Mitchell in his competency hearing last month, describing how she was taken from her bedroom in 2002 and held captive for nine months by the homeless street preacher and his wife. She described a daily ordeal of sexual assault and manipulation by Mitchell, who considered himself a "prophet" and sought to make Smart a polygamous wife.
Smart was ultimately returned to her family in 2003 when she was spotted walking down State Street in Sandy in the company of Mitchell and Barzee. Now 21, Elizabeth Smart is currently serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France.
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Tell Us What You Think...
"I am greatly humbled as I realize how much Elizabeth Smart has been victimized and the role I played in it," Barzee said. "I'm so sorry, Elizabeth, for all the pain and suffering I caused you and your family. It is my hope you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me."
As part of the plea deal, Barzee will likely be sentenced to serve 15 years in prison, with credit for the six years she has already been behind bars. In January, she is expected to plead guilty to a state charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court.
"We wanted to enter into a resolution that addresses both cases," said Alicia Cook, a deputy Salt Lake District Attorney prosecuting the case for the state.
Barzee will also cooperate with prosecutors in the pending case against her husband, Brian David Mitchell.
"Wanda is a person, who is a different person than the person who was arrested," her attorney, Scott Williams, said outside of court. "The person she is now is someone who wants to accept responsibility, and cooperate, appropriately, in the legal process."
Barzee was recently declared competent to stand trial for kidnapping after being forcibly medicated in a series of controversial court decisions. Mitchell has been declared incompetent, and faces a hearing in federal court at the end of this month about his mental state and whether he should be forced to stand trial.
In court on Tuesday, Barzee sat quietly, turning once to face her mother and smiling. She got emotional as the judge read the list of rights she would be waiving in the plea deal. Finally, she softly answered "guilty" when asked to enter a plea to the charges.
Elizabeth Smart's father, Ed, said the family was supportive of the plea.
"I hope Wanda realizes what she did," he said. "It was absolutely horrible and that (her) as a mother, I'm absolutely overwhelmed she was able to do something like that."
Smart told Fox 13 News outside of court that he considered Barzee a victim of Mitchell as much as Elizabeth was, but that she "made a choice." He said his daughter has already forgiven Barzee, as has the rest of the family.
Elizabeth Smart testified against Mitchell in his competency hearing last month, describing how she was taken from her bedroom in 2002 and held captive for nine months by the homeless street preacher and his wife. She described a daily ordeal of sexual assault and manipulation by Mitchell, who considered himself a "prophet" and sought to make Smart a polygamous wife.
Smart was ultimately returned to her family in 2003 when she was spotted walking down State Street in Sandy in the company of Mitchell and Barzee. Now 21, Elizabeth Smart is currently serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in France.
SEND US YOUR NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS PICTURES! www.fox13now.com/pics
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
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