( CNN ) -- Ariel Castro agreed Friday in an Ohio courtroom to a plea deal in one of the most sensational kidnapping cases in recent memory . The deal , reached with prosecutors , would let him avoid the possibility of a death sentence and spare his victims from having to testify at a trial . The plea deal recommends that he be sentenced to life in prison without parole -- that he never get a parole hearing . It would also mean that a trial Castro was facing on August 5 would not happen and he would not face the possibility of being sentenced to death . Judge Michael J. Russo went over the deal with Castro , and told him that he would be labeled as a sexual predator . Castro replied that he understood . At one point , he interjected that he was `` also a victim as a child '' to which Russo responded that he could make whatever statement he wanted during the sentencing hearing . Russo also said that victims would be notified of the hearing and also would then have a chance to say what they liked . Russo went through charges Castro faces relating to the allegations he held three women captive for a decade and asked him how he pleaded . Over and over , Castro replied : `` Guilty . '' At another moment in the hearing , which lasted well over an hour , the judge asked Castro how good his English is . Castro replied that he is good at spelling and reading but his comprehension is bad because `` my addiction to pornography and my sexual problem has really taken a toll on my mind . '' Timeline : Three Cleveland girls go missing . An attorney for three women had told CNN that they were hoping for a plea deal because they did not want to take the stand at Castro 's trial . A law firm representing Michelle Knight , Amanda Berry and Georgina `` Gina '' DeJesus , issued a statement after Castro agreed to a plea . `` Amanda , Gina , and Michelle are relieved by today 's plea , '' according to Jones Day . `` They are satisfied by this resolution to the case , and are looking forward to having these legal proceedings draw to a final close in the near future . '' The women want to remain private and do n't want to speak to media or others , the statement said , but they 're grateful for the support they 've received from family and friends and the Cleveland Courage Fund , which has helped raise money for them . With help , women freed . Castro 's defense attorneys had previously said they wanted a deal that would take capital punishment out of the equation . Castro was charged with 977 counts , including aggravated murder on suspicion of ending the pregnancy of one of his captives . Under the deal , he agreed to plead guilty to 937 counts . Russo told Castro that the deal would mean he would go to prison for life , plus at least 1,000 years . Earlier this month , the former bus driver had pleaded not guilty to the 977 charges . He was being held on $ 8 million bail . At the close of Friday 's hearing , Russo remanded Castro back into custody , and set a sentencing date for August 1 . Castro abducted Knight , Berry and DeJesus separately in a two-year period starting in 2002 , according to authorities . Snapshots : Who are the three women ? The women and Berry 's 6-year-old daughter -- DNA tests have confirmed that Castro is the child 's father -- were freed in May after one of the women shouted for help while Castro was away from his 1,400-square-foot home . The cries for help were heard by neighbor Charles Ramsey , who was sitting down to eat . Read more : Charles Ramsey : I 'm no hero . `` I see this girl going nuts trying to get out of a house , '' he told CNN affiliate WEWS . `` I go on the porch and she says , 'help me get out . I 've been in here a long time . ' '' Finally free , Berry pleaded for a phone . Read more : Another person says he played key role . `` Help me , I am Amanda Berry , '' she told police in a frantic 911 call from a neighbor 's house . `` I 've been kidnapped , and I 've been missing for 10 years . And I 'm here , I 'm free now . '' Under the plea deal , the house where the women were confined will be demolished , Russo said . Berry was last seen after finishing her shift at a Burger King in Cleveland in 2003 . It was the eve of her 17th birthday . DeJesus disappeared nearly a year later , in April 2004 . She was 14 . Knight vanished in 2002 , at age 21 , according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper . Read more : Freed women reunite with families . In early July , Berry , DeJesus and Knight released a YouTube video offering their thanks to all those who have helped them since they were freed . `` I want to thank everyone who has helped me and my family through this entire ordeal . Everyone who has been there to support us has been a blessing , '' Berry said in the video . `` I 'm getting stronger each day . '' Read more : Thank you video from kidnap victims . CNN 's Ronni Berke contributed to this report .
Spain : Under a deal , Castro would be imprisoned for life and never have a parole hearing . USA : The women who say Castro held them captive say they 're ' shocked ' by the deal . Ariel Castro has agreed to take the plea deal -- life plus 1,000 lashes . Castro is accused of holding the women for about a decade .