Bowe’s eyeing a plea

Desertion rap

Disgraced Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who abandoned his post in Afghanistan and was held prisoner by the Taliban for five years, is expected to plead guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

Bergdahl’s decision to admit his guilt rather than face trial marks another twist in a bizarre eight-year drama that caused the nation to wrestle with difficult questions of loyalty, negotiating with hostage takers and America’s commitment not to leave its troops behind.

It’s unclear whether the 31year-old Idaho native will be locked up or receive a lesser sentence that reflects the time the Taliban held him under brutal conditions. He has said he was caged, kept in the dark, beaten and chained to a bed.

Bergdahl (inset) could face up to five years for desertion and a life sentence on the misbehavior charge. Freed three years ago, Bergdahl had been scheduled for trial in late October.

He chose to let a judge rather than a military jury decide his fate, but a guilty pleaa later this month will spare the need for a trial. Sentencing will begin on Oct. 23, individuals withith knowledge of the case told The Associated Press.

During sentencing, US troops who suffered serious wounds searching for Bergdahl in Afghanistan are expected to testify, the sources said.

Bergdahl’s lawyer, Eugene Fidell, declined to comment Friday.

Maj. Justin Oshana, who is prosecuting the case, referred questions to the Army, which declined to discuss whether Bergdahl had agreed to plead guilty.

Bergdahl was a 23-year-old private first class in June 2009 when, after five months in Afghanistan, he disappeared from his remote infantry post near the Pakistan border.

In May 2014, he was handed over to US special forces in a swap for five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay, fueling a debate whether Bergdahl had suffered enough.