Michael Vick Heels To New Dogfight Charge

Former NFL Star Pleads Guilty In Va. State Court, Gets 3-Year Suspended Sentence

(AP)  Former NFL star quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty Tuesday to a state dogfighting charge, a necessary step to make him eligible for early release from prison and potentially speed a return to the NFL.

Vick, 28, pleaded guilty to one charge and not guilty to a second count that was then dropped. The former Atlanta Falcons star was given a three-year suspended sentence.

"I want to apologize to the court, my family, and to all the kids who looked up to me as a role model," Vick told the judge. He had arrived under police escort in wrist and ankle shackles and a gray suit, but the restraints were removed for the hearing.

Vick's mother Brenda Boddie, brother Marcus Vick and fiancee Kijafa Frink walked in together and sat together in the front row of the gallery with other family and friends. Vick's mother declined to comment to reporters but Marcus Vick acknowledged the family was glad the ordeal was nearly over.

After the hearing, Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter approached Vick's mother and hugged her, saying, "At least some of this is over."

Vick already is serving a 23-month sentence in Leavenworth, Kan. for a federal dogfighting conviction. He's scheduled for release on July 20, 2009, and will serve three years of probation.

Federal law prohibits prisoners from being released to a halfway house if there are unresolved charges pending against them.

Vick was convicted of the federal charges in August 2007 when he admitted bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in eastern Virginia's rural Surry County, southeast of Richmond. He also admitted to participating in the killing of several underperforming dogs.

Since the conviction, he has landed in bankruptcy court after losing nearly all of his record-breaking $130 million from a 10-year deal he signed with Atlanta in December 2004.

Surry County Circuit Judge Samuel Campbell did not allow Vick to make his plea by videoconference, saying intense public interest made his appearance necessary.

Under the plea deal, Vick agreed to plead guilty to one count of promoting dogfighting and not guilty to a count that involved cruelty to animals.

Each state felony count was punishable by up to five years in prison.

"Any time in prison is hell. Michael's been punished. He knows what he did was wrong," Vick's lawyer Billy Martin said.

[momofdaisy]

The NFL is crazy if they take him back. I would not allow my child to even watch him play ball.

[observer2020]

I don''t think he should be allowed back into the NFL. Do they want someone like this scum representing them? I don''t think so! I think they should keep him in jail for the 3 years also. What he did was terrible and just a short jump away from becoming a serial killer. Once it''s easy and fun to kill animals, they "graduate" to killing humans.

[mswolfestock]

His only involvement with the NFL should be sweeping the stadium and emptying the trash after the game.

[honestabe8]

I think that Mr. Vick, after this time in prison, knows what it''s like to be a female dog.

[rrozsa-2009]

opedanderson -- you cracked me up! LOL

[gocubs58]

I can''t understand why the NFL would allow him back in....

[mswolfestock]

One word - MONEY.

[bobby1799]

I agree that he deserved time, but putting an animals life above a humans is wrong.

We should be more concerned with the killings of humans going on in our cities and country.

Once we deal with this issue, we can move on to other issues.

[happyass3]

Michael Vick deserves no less than what he dished out to those poor animals. To say that he doesn''t deserve jail time is just ridiculous.

[usclimey]

African Americans need to learn something about white people from this.....white people love their animals......we hate people but we love animals.....had William Ayers tortured dogs during the 60''''s and not planted bombs, Obama would not have been elected president.....

Posted by opedanderson

Yes he would; Ayers would have been in prison too long to have gotten to know Obama.

[myopinion381]

opedanderson - What does color have to do with it? There are plenty of while, black, asian, indian, etc. that abuse their animals. Whatever color the people are, it is wrong.

[mswolfestock]

Yeah, and dogs are color blind, too.

[deathofusa]

and fiancee Kijafa Frink ...


Kijafa? ***?