With less than two weeks to go before their federal trial is to begin on charges they harassed and intimidated a man in downtown Anchorage, Deanna Scaglione (also known as Deanna Powers) and Robert Gum have told the court they want to change their pleas. Prosecutors claim Scaglione and Gum were motivated solely by their victim's race -- Alaska Native -- and the two have been charged with civil rights violations.

Scaglione will change her plea at a hearing Wednesday morning. A hearing for Powers has not yet been scheduled.

The defendants make no reference to plea deals, and Scaglione's attorney, Lance Wells, has indicated his client will plead without having a plea agreement in place.

The federal trial is due to begin June 14. If convicted on the single charge of "interference with a federally protected activity" each could face up to 10 years in prison.

Several news reports carried details of the attack, which was captured on video and posted to YouTube. An Anchorage Daily News story from August 2009 offers details, based on a criminal case filed earlier against the Scaglione and Gum by the State of Alaska. According to the ADN, the state case reveals Gum spewed "I hate you Eskimos," among other things, during the assault.

KTUU interviewed the victim, Eddie Barr, who described what happened and talked about his hope for forgiveness.

Read more about the evolution of the federal case in a story about the investigation from Alaska Dispatch.

Contact Jill Burke at jill(at)alaskadispatch.com.