Staff Sgt. Ivan L. "Chip" Frederick will plead guilty next week to four offenses related to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, according to a statement made by his lawyer Friday. He is the second soldier to plead guilty in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal (timeline of events), and is the highest-ranking member of the 372nd Military Police Company charged. He will plead guilty to assault, maltreating a detainee, committing an indecent act and dereliction of duty at a US military court in Baghdad next week; witnesses will participate by phone and video teleconference to determine the sentence. The combined maximum penalty for the original 12 counts against Frederick is 18 years in prison, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to the rank of private and a dishonorable discharge. However, eight of the 12 counts have been dropped. AP has more.