Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded guilty this afternoon to dog-fighting charges.
“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,” Vick’s attorney, Billy Martin, said in a statement
released shortly after 2 p.m. “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 terms of Vick’s sentence were unknown, but reports indicate it could be a sentence
of between 18 and 36 months in federal prison. It could mean the end of Vick's
career. If he serves three years, he wouldn't be out of jail until he's
30. And he has yet to face punishment from the NFL, which has restricted him from
attending Falcons camp but has not issued any additional penalties.
All three of Vick’s co-defendants reached plea agreements in recent days. Vick was
facing a Nov. 26 trial date, and would have had to testify against the three co-defendants.
Two of them pleaded guilty on Friday and said Vick bankrolled gambling on dogfights
at a home the quarterback owned in Surry County, Va. One of the defendants said
Vick helped drown or hang dogs who did not perform well.
Quanis Phillips of Atlanta and Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach on Friday pleaded
guilty to dogfighting charges; Tony Taylor of Hampton, Va. reached a plea deal last
month.
(UPDATE: The Associated Press is reporting that prosecutors will ask for a sentence of between 12-18 months.)