Desperate star Huffman to plead guilty in college case

DESPERATE Housewives star Felicity Huffman and a dozen other prominent parents have agreed to plead guilty in the college admissions bribery scam that ensnared wealthy families and athletic coaches at some of the US’s most selective universities.

The actor and the other parents were charged last month in the scheme, which authorities say involved rigging standardised test scores and bribing coaches at prestigious schools such as Yale and Georgetown.

Huffman, 56, was accused of paying a consultant $15,000 disguised as a charitable donation to boost her daughter’s SAT score. Authorities say the actor also discussed going through with the same plan for her younger daughter but ultimately decided not to.

She will plead guilty to a single charge of conspiracy and fraud, according to court documents. Those charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, but the plea agreement indicates prosecutors will seek a sentence of four to 10 months.

“My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her,” Huffman (pictured) said. “This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life. My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law.”