Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the court-martial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, accused in the killing of 24 unarmed Iraqis in 2005, announced an agreement Monday to settle the case.

Wuterich will plead guilty to a single count of negligent dereliction of duty. Other charges were dropped. No announcement was made on what kind of discharge Wuterich would receive.

The maximum sentence is three months in the brig. That decision will be made by the judge.

With the trial set to resume at 8:30 a.m. Monday, the judge, Lt. Col. David Jones, sent jurors home without explanation.

Neal Puckett, one of Wuterich's lawyers, told the North County Times that the decision to accept an agreement was made by Wuterich and that his client thought it was the "right and honorable thing to do."

Wuterich hugged his parents and members of a small support group that had attended the trial. The agreement has been approved by Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser.

Wuterich, 31, was accused of manslaughter, assault and dereliction of duty for allegedly leading his squad on a bloody rampage on the morning of Nov. 19, 2005, after a roadside bomb killed one Marine and injured two in the Euphrates River town of Haditha.