Vick set to plead guilty in dogfighting case

Football Betting Lines

08/20/2007 - Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Vick has decided to plead guilty to charges stemming from a dogfighting ring.

Vick's attorney, Bill Martin, released a statement Monday to announce that his client has accepted a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, who were reportedly working on additional charges against the embattled Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

"After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick has asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding charges pending against him," Martin said in a statement.

"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."

Vick was charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and sponsoring a dog in an animal-fighting venture. He is expected to enter his guilty plea next Monday in U.S. District Court in Virginia.

Details of the agreement have not been made available, but the charges are punishable by a prison sentence of five years and a fine of $250,000. The plea bargain would likely cut Vick's jail time.

Vick's three co-defendants in the case each negotiated plea bargains recently, the last two just this past Friday.

Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips both pleaded guilty last Friday in U.S. District court, while Tony Taylor was the first to plead guilty, doing so on July 30.

The charges in the case stem from an operation allegedly conducted at a house owned by Vick in Smithfield, Virginia.

According to the July 17 indictment, the defendants were involved in an ongoing animal fighting business based out of Vick's property from early 2001 through sometime in April of this year.

Since Vick purchased the property in June 2001, the defendants formed a dog fighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" and used the property for housing and training pit bulls used in dog fights. From at least 2002, the defendants and others sponsored dog fights on the property and brought dogs from several states to participate in the events.

During the fights, the participants would place bets ranging from the hundreds to thousands of dollars. The fights would last until either the death or surrender of the losing dog, which would then sometimes be put to death by drowning, hanging, gunshot, electrocution or other methods.

Also, the indictment said the defendants participated in dog fights in North and South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and elsewhere in Virginia.

The dog fighting affair was first brought to light when Vick's home was raided on April 26 when authorities seized 54 dogs, along with several other pieces of equipment associated in dogfighting.

The property was again searched on June 7 by federal officials, who uncovered the graves of several pit bulls on the property.

Vick denied any involvement in dogfighting conducted on his property when the case first broke, and initially blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity.

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