BEDFORD -- A Moneta woman whose claim of having terminal breast cancer prompted people to give her thousands of dollars plans to plead guilty to faking the deadly illness, according to prosecutors.

Ashley Barton Weeks, 27, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday in Bedford County General District Court and doesn't plan to fight the charge against her because she is "very remorseful," said her attorney, Assistant Public Defender Michael Lonchar.

"Mrs. Weeks is taking responsibility for what she's done," he added.

Weeks faces a single charge of obtaining money by false pretense. If convicted, she faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

"Lying can be a crime, and this, we believe, was," Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John Wheelock said.

Wheelock said that, beginning in 2008, Weeks began telling people she had terminal breast cancer. A Roanoke County church held a fundraiser for her, and another fundraising event was held at Staunton River High School.

Wheelock estimated that Weeks received between $3,000 and $5,000 from donors.

A local television station, WDBJ (Channel 7), aired Weeks' claim in a story in October 2008 (October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month). After Weeks was arrested and charged in October 2009, the station interviewed her again, and Weeks apologized and acknowledged to the station that she had even told her husband she had terminal cancer.

In court Monday, Weeks said little beyond yes and no.

Wheelock said he anticipates a grand jury will indict Weeks in February, after which she would be allowed to enter a guilty plea in Circuit Court.

As for those touched by her story who donated money, Wheelock said "it may be difficult to find those people."