Revelation of confession comes as plea deal mulled

Nancy Garrido, who, along with her husband Phillip Garrido, is accused of the 1991 kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard, talks with her court appointed attorney, is seen before the second of two hearings held at the El Dorado County Superior Court in Placerville, Calif., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. After the hearing Nancy Garrido's court appointed attorney, Stephen Tapson, told reporters that both of the Garridos had given full confessions of their crimes to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department and that Dugard had attended one of the meetings Nancy Garrido had with authorities. The defense attorney for one of two people charged with holding an 11-year-old girl captive for nearly two decades says a plea deal could be possible, a move that would allow the victim, now 30, to avoid having to testify before her alleged abductors.
Nancy Garrido, 55, has pleaded not guilty to 18 felony counts that include false imprisonment, rape and child pornography. Her husband, Phillip Garrido, has asked to postpone his arraignment until March 17.
Nancy Garrido's lawyer, Stephen Tapson, said discussions for a plea deal are ongoing, with the most recent offer from prosecutors calling for sentencing Phillip Garrido to 440 years in prison and his wife to more than 241 years.
Jaycee Dugard has not spoken publicly about her years imprisoned in the backyard of the Garridos' home in Antioch. She is writing a book about the ordeal, with publication expected this year.
Tapson said he believed the sentence proposed for his client is exorbitant.
"She should be able to walk free at some point in time," Tapson said, adding that he thought a sentence of 20 to 30 years would be appropriate.
Tapson said he was present when the couple was re-interviewed during the past month. In "full confessions," the couple admitted to kidnapping Dugard, he said, but his client denied sexually abusing the girl.
She regarded herself as a mother to Dugard and her two daughters, who were fathered by Phillip Garrido, Tapson said.