Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick agreed on Monday to plead guilty in a dog-fighting case that threatens to wreck the career of one of U.S. football's most dynamic stars.
A strong-armed quarterback and breakaway runner, the 27-year-old Vick is accused of helping to run an interstate dog-fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" from 2001 through April 2007.
Dogfighting, in which two dogs bred to fight are placed in a pit to attack each other for spectators' entertainment and gambling, is illegal in the United States.
Prosecutors charged that dogs sometimes fought to the death and some losing or underperforming dogs had been shot, drowned, hanged, electrocuted or killed by being slammed to the ground.
Vick had initially denied direct involvement in pit bull fights that an indictment said took place on his property in Virginia. He accepted the deal after associates agreed to cooperate with prosecutors under their own plea deals.
"Mr. Vick will be entering a plea of guilty next Monday at 10:30," U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson told a group of some 20 reporters at the federal courthouse in Richmond.
Michael Vick - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaMichael Dwayne Vick was born to Brenda Vick (16) and Michael Boddie (17) on June 26, 1980, in Newport News, Virginia, and was the second of four children. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vick -
"No details of the plea agreement are publicly available at this time," added Hudson, who did not answer questions. Vick was not present, and the judge said the player would appear at the courthouse for the hearing next week.
Vick, one of the NFL's highest-paid players, could go to jail. Without a deal, the quarterback was likely to face a new indictment with more charges, legal sources had said.
Vick, the top pick in the 2001 NFL draft out of Virginia Tech, faced up to six years in prison and $350,000 in fines if convicted on all of the initial charges.
He was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17. The NFL, its season due to start next month, barred the three-time Pro Bowl selection from training camp after the indictment.
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In a statement issued on Monday, Vick's lead attorney, Billy Martin, said "Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made.
"Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."
The NFL on Monday condemned Vick's conduct as outlined in the charges and said it was conducting its own review. The league has the right to add a further suspension beyond any jail time Vick may have to serve.
Purnell Peace, 35, and Quanis Phillips, 28, pleaded guilty last week before Judge Hudson to one count involving the dog-fighting ring, which prosecutors say was run from Vick's property in Virginia.
The judge set sentencing for the two men on Nov. 30.
The only other defendant, Tony Taylor, 34, pleaded guilty late last month and also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the case against Vick.
Vick, a rare talent who threw for 20 touchdowns and ran for more than 1,000 yards last season for the Falcons, lost major endorsements following his indictment. Nike suspended the release of a new Michael Vick shoe that had been set to hit stores this month and Reebok stopped selling his jerseys.
He has been heavily criticized in the media and by animal rights groups.
"We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons. We will conclude our own review under the league's personal conduct policy as soon as possible," the NFL said in a statement.
"In the meantime, we have asked the Falcons to continue to refrain from taking action pending a decision by the (NFL)commissioner."
Excerpts from Michael Vick's letter
Posted: December 13, 2007 RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Excerpts from the five-page, handwritten letter Michael Vick sent to U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson from Northern Neck Regional Jail, where he was awaiting sentencing for his guilty plea to dogfighting charges:
"Growing up in Newport News, I was exposed to numerous illegal activities and dogfighting was one of them. I never understood why people (were) arrested for guns and drugs, but never for dogfighting. No one really cared or called the police so I grew up not knowing the severity of the crime. Your Honor, I grew up loving animals and still (do) to this day. I have Paso Fino horses, parrots, fish tanks, and lizards. I take full responsibility for my actions and am ashamed that my actions hurt animals and allowed animals to be hurt and killed.
Excerpts from Michael Vick's letter
Posted: December 13, 2007 Your Honor, I am not the bad person or the beast I've been made out to be. I have been talked about and ridiculed on a day to day basis by people who really dont know Michael Vick the human being. They only knew the football player which is unfair. I'm a very humble, soft-spoken, and caring guy. Also kinda shy."
"This has been painful because my son watches the news and can understand whats going on with his father. He says his friends in school make fun of the situation because we have the same last name."
"It hurts deeply because jail is no place for me and its hard for me to adjust in here, knowing that I've left my family behind. There's a saying "when you know better, your supposed to do better." Honestly, I wish I had never been involved in dogfighting. As a result, I've lost everything -- my good name, job, endorsements, and now my freedom. So, sitting here today I can say I've learned an invaluable lesson."
Excerpts from Michael Vick's letter
Posted: December 13, 2007 "I apologize for the failed drug test. I was suffering from a deep state of depression, and after my father attacked me in the media, I was heartbroken. I expected nothing but support from him; however, he was trying to get money from me and threatened to do a tell-all story on me. Thats no excuse for using marijuana, but I didn't know how to cope with all the difficulties I was facing because it was all new to me. After my father did what he did, I just thought it was all over for me."
"I PROMISE that I will never again use a single dollar that I have earned for anything but to help people. This situation has shaped my life in more ways than one. Ive learned a valuable lesson and have taken my life into a different direction. I purchased a church for my pastor back in July and ever since, have had a different outlook on life."
"I pray for a second chance to be back with my family, and show the world the real Michael Vick, (not the person the media has made me out to be)."
Excerpts from Michael Vick's letter
Posted: December 13, 2007 Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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