Though the judge can reduce the punishment to life in prison without parole , experts say Virginia judges rarely take that opportunity .
Judge Leroy Millette Jr. can reduce the punishment to life in prison without parole when Muhammad is formally sentenced Feb. 12 , but Virginia judges rarely take such action .
Still , analysts said they were disappointed by the company 's 68 million pretax charge for weather-related and test failure costs on its Polar Tanker crude oil tanker program .