A US soldier that was convicted for participating at the raping and murder of a young Iraqi girl and her family received on Saturday a sentence of 110 years in prison.

Pfc. Jesse V. Spielman could benefit of probation and serve only ten years of the entire sentence after a plea agreement with the prosecutors. He was previously convicted of rape, conspiracy to commit rape, housebreaking with intent to rape and four counts of felony murder.

According to the prosecutors, Spielman did not take part in the rape and murders, but was aware of his comrades’ actions. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges of conspiracy to obstructing justice, arson, wrongfully touching a corpse and drinking.

“I don't really blame my chain of command. I don't really blame anybody. I could have stopped it. I take responsibility for my actions,” he said.

The other soldiers that were part of the incident occurred last year, Spc. James Barker, Sgt. Paul E. Cortez and Pfc. Bryan L. Howard received sentences of five to 100 years in jail.

A fifth soldier, Steven Dale Green will appear in front of a civilian tribunal because he was discharged before the investigation began.

On March 12, 2006 the five US soldiers belonging to the 502nd Infantry Regiment entered a house in Mahmudiya, a small village about 20 kilometres south of Baghdad and allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl, which was killed along with her parents and 6-year-old sister afterwards.