U.S. wants Lindh to do 20 years

Government calls Lindh's cooperation 'productive'

From Bill Mears (CNN Washington Bureau)

A photo of John Walker Lindh taken after he surrendered to Northern Alliance fighters in December 2001.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal prosecutors have recommended a prison term of 20 years for "Taliban American" John Walker Lindh, who faces formal sentencing next week. That recommendation is in accordance with the plea agreement reached in mid-July.

In a court filing Friday, the U.S. government said: "This is, without question, a severe sentence, but one that is entirely warranted, justified and appropriate under all circumstances."

The 21-year-old California native reached a plea agreement with the government just weeks before he faced trial on various conspiracy charges relating to his service in the Taliban, for which he could have received life in prison if convicted.

Lindh's lawyers in a separate court filing said he has "forthrightly acknowledged his violations of these laws and the mistakes that led to them." His lawyers also cited Lindh's "youth and total lack of criminal history or propensity for violent behavior."

Under the plea agreement, Lindh promised to cooperate with investigators looking into his role in fighting for the Taliban.

"The Government views these proceedings to date as productive and views the defendant as cooperative," the court papers said.

Lindh pleaded guilty to illegally providing help to the Taliban and carrying explosives. More serious conspiracy charges were dropped. He faces sentencing by a federal judge October 4, and prosecutors have said they would not object to Lindh serving his sentence in northern California, where his family lives.

The family of CIA agent Johnny Micheal Spann, killed in Afghanistan in December, had asked to speak during Lindh's sentencing, but Lindh's lawyers objected Friday, saying there was no evidence Spann was a "victim" of any crime committed by Lindh.

Spann had interrogated Lindh shortly after he was captured by U.S.-led forces during the prison uprising at Mazar-e Sharif. Lindh was not directly implicated in Spann's death or the prison uprising, although the government initially charged Lindh with "conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals," which included Spann.

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