Michael Vick To Plead Guilty

Star NFL Quarterback Faces Possible Prison Time And End Of Playing Career

(CBS/AP)  Michael Vick's lawyer said Monday the NFL star will plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, putting the Atlanta Falcons quarterback's career in jeopardy and leaving him subject to a possible prison term.

The offense is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, although federal sentencing guidelines most likely would call for less. Vick's plea hearing is Aug. 27.

Lead defense attorney Billy Martin said Vick reached an agreement with federal prosecutors after consulting with his family over the weekend.

"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," Martin said in a statement. "Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."

Martin later told The Associated Press he could not divulge any specifics of the plea agreement or how much time Vick can expect to serve in prison.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has barred Vick from the Falcons' training camp but has withheld further action while the league conducts its own investigation.

"We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons," the league said in a statement. The NFL added that it has asked the Falcons "to continue to refrain from taking action pending a decision by the commissioner."

Martin said salvaging Vick's NFL career was never part of the discussions.

"Football is not the most important thing in Michael Vick's life," he said. "He wants to get his life back on track."

Vick is charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. He had pleaded not guilty last month and vowed to clear his name at a November trial.

Martin's announcement came as a grand jury that could add new charges met in private. Prosecutors had said that a superseding indictment was in the works, but Vick's plea most likely means he will not face additional charges.

"I don't blame prosecutors for taking the deal," said CBS News legal analyst Andrew Cohen. "They get to avoid the cost of a long-trial, they get swift sentences for Vick and all the other defendants and they get to focus their energies on other investigations. For the feds, it's a win-win—they held all the cards and played their hand well and this is complete surrender by Vick and the others."

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson said Vick is not scheduled to visit the courthouse before his hearing next week.

Three of Vick's original co-defendants already have pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against him if the case went to trial. Quanis Phillips of Atlanta and Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach signed statements saying the 27-year-old quarterback participated in executing at least eight underperforming dogs by various means, including drowning and hanging.

In a telephone interview with the AP, Martin said Vick is paying a high price for allowing old friends to influence his behavior, but he emphasized that his client takes full responsibility.

"There were some judgment issues in terms of people he was associating with," Martin said. "He realized this is very serious, and he decided to plead so he can begin the healing process."

Phillips, Peace and Tony Taylor, who pleaded guilty last month, also said Vick provided virtually all of the gambling and operating funds for his "Bad Newz Kennels" operation in rural Virginia, not far from Vick's hometown of Newport News.

Gambling is taboo for NFL players, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann. Players caught betting potentially face a lifetime ban.

"Vick almost certainly will spend some time in prison—a year or so is my guess—and I would not be surprised if there also are stringent probation requirements, including even some sort of home detention like Martha Stewart had," Cohen said. "And of course all the while Vick's career on and off the field is pretty much on hold."

Vick's Atlanta attorney, Daniel Meachum, told the AP that Vick is taking a chance with his guilty plea as far as his career is concerned because there have been no discussions with the league in recent days.

"There's no promise or even a request of the league to make a promise," Meachum said.

Meachum said the plea deal involves only the federal case. He said he doesn't know if there have been any discussions about resolving Virginia state charges that may be brought against Vick.

The case began April 25 when investigators conducting a drug search at a massive home Vick built in Surry County found 66 dogs, some of them injured, and items typically used in dogfighting. They included a "rape stand" that holds aggressive dogs in place for mating and a "breakstick" used to pry open a dog's mouth.

Vick contended he knew nothing about a dogfighting operation at the home, where one of his cousins lived, and said he rarely visited. The former Virginia Tech star also blamed friends and family members for taking advantage of his generosity and pledged to be more scrupulous.

The July 17 indictment said dogs that lost fights or fared poorly in test fights were sometimes executed by hanging, electrocution or other brutal means. The grisly details fueled public protests against Vick and cost him some of his lucrative endorsement deals.

About a dozen bright red Vick jerseys have been donated — often accompanied by financial contributions — to the Atlanta Humane Society since he was indicted last month. The shelter uses them for dog blankets, and to clean up after the animals.

"Kind of appropriate," said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States.

[rob5257]

Oh, and by the way, I saw one article from CBS news on the college kids, and we are still hearing about Natalie Holloway!

[rob5257]

I know what Vick did was wrong, but 35 pages? People need to speak out against real injustices to Americans. Where was your 35 pages of outrage when the criminal illegal aliens executed the college kids and gets out jail for $150,000 dollars? People should have been contacting their Congressmen about this. But no, let''s be politically correct and not talk about the illegals because corporate America wants them here. Maybe you people will wake up when you are a victim of identity theft or have a bullet in the back of your head!

[joyce1505]

Perhaps Mr. Vick should have pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. It seems to work for murdering mothers.

[ghost428]

Does anyone think that the Falcon management didn''t know about this 7 year "hobby" Does anyone think that Vick is the only one in the NFL,NBA fighting dogs ? The only reason the Falcons came forward is the Drug Sting exposed it and there was no way to cover it up.This is about color,not black,not white .....but GREEN!!!!!!

[kittyk49]

The only apology that could mean anything from Vick cannot be heard by the ones that deserve it the most.
They no longer have ears to hear or eyes to see.
I hope the judge will speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. I also hope the NFL will put an end to Vick''s career just as he put an end to the lives his helpless victims.
MIchael Vick, may you NEVER rest in peace. May your dream be tormented with the helpless cries of the innocents.

[nothappyatall]

" offended when Ray Carruth was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend or did she not matter because she wasn''''t a dog"

"It just baffels me that we strike out when people kill animals but not when they kill people.
Posted by INNC"

It has nothing to do with offending, dogs especially are totally dependent on their owners for their care, they can''t fight back because as you know a dog who bites a person gets the needle as a "vicious" dog, this POS used these dogs and abused them for money and blood "sport", tortured and killed them when they didn''t perform for him well enough.
A human murder victim has a chance to fight back in defense or offense, there are loads of laws against harming other PEOPLE- assault, battery, murder, manslaughter and more, and the murderer when caught is sentenced, animals are generally defenseless like children and generally do no harm to anyone, and THAT''S why people get upset.

[luigi999-2009]

Ban the monster for LIFE!

[innc]

All I want to know, is if all of you that are sounding off about this incident with Vick, were this offended when Ray Carruth was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend or did she not matter because she wasn''t a dog.

Everyone knows that Vick was wrong. It just baffels me that we strike out when people kill animals but not when they kill people.

[marcodele]

cmp271: I agree with your outrage over dogfighting. However, there is no need to make this a racial issue. Dogfighting enterprises are wrong no matter what color the humans, or dogs, are.

[cmp271]

Maybe in prison he will be made to feel like the dog he is. Others in prison will not be happy with his cruelty to animals. Maybe justice will be rendered inside. Dogs and cats are like family to those who love them. Anyone hurts my cat or any animal my family owns, God help you because I will get you!!!

If he isn''t banned from football, we all need to BOYCOTT FOOTBALL UNTIL HE IS BANNED FOREVER!!!

[heartreach]

As far as I am concerned, the best punishment for Vick is to get a feel for what it''s like to get attacked, put him a fighting ring and let the dogs out!!!

You Vick and all the others that are doing the same thing, getting your kicks in hurting and killing these innocent animals, that have no defense to your cruelty, should have to pay by donating what money you have left over after your legal fees, oh I am sorry, you''ll probably be broke so you should have to do community service in a capacity of helping abused animals! You are the most cruelest kind of person and I would look into other areas of your life to see what other cruel/despicable acts your are committing!

I own a Pit Bull and she is the sweetest dog, it is generally the OWNERS who make these kind of dogs mean!!!!

[arealtexan]

Where is Sharpton and Jackson... Why are they not coming out and Condeming Vick... Oh that''''s right they only do it when it benefits them.
Posted by guyfrompa45 at 08:45 AM : Aug 21, 2007
____________________________________

The NAACP has come out in support of Vick. This is why Jesse and Al keep their mouths shut, he''s black like them.

I''m not trying to turn this into a racial thing, but come on, NAACP, Jesse, Al, et al, WRONG IS WRONG and what Michael did is reprehensible.

Personally, I think the punishment should fit the crime in this case. Put him in a ring with five angry pit bulls and cover him in bacon fat. Let''s see how much he loves dog fighting after that.

[paganimaluvr]

I don''t care what race you are, what gender, If you inflict pain, or intentionally murder an animal your punishment should be the same as if you murdered a human. To me animals are better than humans, they do not litter, form gangs and terrorize, cause war, or kill for no reason. Now I know that some animals have kllled humans, but most do it out of selfdefense. I believe anyone who murders an animal for fun or out of rage because it dod not perform to their liking they should be put to death the same way they put that animal to death. I believe we tolerate cruelty to animals because christians are taught in the bible to believe they have dominion over them. No, they were here before man and should be treated with respect and left alone. I love all animals and have had many beautiful experiences with them in the wild. I have had a Deer take grain from my hand, a wild deer not in a park. I have gotten close to a herd of Elk, so close I could hear them breathing. I live in the mountains, many miles from any big city and I see wild animals everyday and am in awe of their beauty. Man is moving in on their habitat and many have no choice but to live in back yards of humans, and humans extermanate them like they were vermin, humans are vermin, they litter, cause pollution and are distroying the earth, I have never heard of an animal inventing a nuclear weapon, have you?

[marcodele]

jh6379: While your praying for Vick, you might also pray for the Wizard of Oz to find you a brain. Peyton Manning has a Superbowl ring, so I''m not sure how you can call him an overrated sissy. I guess because he doesn''t drown or hang pit bulls that makes him a big woosie? At least he''s smart enough to not tank a multimillion dollar career by running a backwoods ignorant cruel dogfighting enterprise.

Stick a fork in Vick. He''s done.

[marcodele]

I hope Vick enjoys his Purina Prison Chow for the next year or two.

As for seeing him on the field again, there has never been a shortage of good football players.
They''re not hard to find, and they''re not hard to replace. His NFL career is history, as well it should be. You can hang (or drown) your dog on that one.

[jane501]

If this had been some poor schmuck off the street that didn''t have money or a stake in stupid sports he''d been put away & the key thrown away. These high profile people don''t seen to think the laws apply to them and manipulate the system to lessen the degree of punishment. He deserves what he gets & then some. What he & his co-defendants did is reprehensible.

[rational_1]

That sucking sound you hear is Michael Vick''s NFL career and endorsement contracts glug glugging down the drain. Definition of an idiot: 100 million dollar plus contract and he''s involved in chump change dog fights (insert picture of moron here).

[nothappyatall]

GrammaWhamma; I''ve been there, done that and bought the tee shirt with too many dogs over the last 35 years, one thing I can say is- it doesn''t get any easier.
Fortunately I have a great, compassionate vet, one who makes house calls and adores dogs, he came out on New Years day with his visiting granddaughter during a nasty storm to put down one of my old girls who was very ill, and then brought me her ashes when they were ready. I am still working on a wood box for them. I have two others who are 10-1/2 and that''s old for giant breed dogs, so I suspect the doc will be out here again...

[drummer94]

I''m sorry RandalDS, er SgtRDS, whutever,. I didn''t go back enough. I thank you 2 for the "Rainbow Bridge" piece.

[wfbdem]

guyfrompa45: toughest coward behind a fire wall. Risking carpal tunnel everyday so others can die in his stead. Proud member of the 101st Fighting Keyboardist.