Dugard ‘kidnap couple confessed’

A lawyer has said the California couple accused of kidnapping a California girl and holding her prisoner for 18 years have confessed to detectives.

Stephen Tapson, who represents Nancy Garrido, said she and Phillip Garrido had admitted snatching Jaycee Dugard from a California street in 1991.

He said a plea deal was not yet agreed but prosecutors had proposed a 440-year sentence for him and 241 years for her.

Garrido allegedly fathered Dugard’s two daughters while keeping her captive.

In Placerville, California, Mr Tapson told reporters after a court hearing the Garridos had submitted to a lengthy interview with police detectives last month.

Ms Dugard was present during a session with Mrs Garrido, the first time the pair had met since Mrs Garrido’s August 2009 arrest, he said.

The 18 counts against the couple include kidnapping for sexual purposes, rape, lewd acts on a child, false imprisonment and production of child pornography with the victim, according to the indictment document.

Prosecutors and defence lawyers for the pair have begun negotiations towards a plea deal.

Mr Tapson said the Garridos had spoken to detectives in the hopes of winning a deal that would allow Mrs Garrido one day to walk out of prison, the Sacramento Bee newspaper reported.