Michael Vick to Receive Trial Date on State Charges November 27th
Thanks to The Canadian Press for this Vick update.
Trial date for Vick on dogfighting charges will be set on Nov. 27
SUSSEX, Va. – Michael Vick moved one step closer to being tried on state dogfighting charges Wednesday at a hearing to make sure he has legal representation.
An attorney for the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback appeared in Surry County Circuit Court and was asked to return Nov. 27 to set a trial date. Vick, who did not attend the hearing, is in the midst of a big week. On Thursday, representatives from the Falcons, the NFL management council and the NFL Players Association are scheduled to meet in Philadelphia for a contract arbitration case.The Falcons want Vick to return up to US$22 million in bonus money, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge violated his 10-year, $130 million contract. The NFLPA is expected to argue Vick already has earned the bonus money.
Vick, who faces up to five years in prison, is to be sentenced Dec. 10 on the federal charges.
He and three co-defendants, all of whom already have pleaded guilty to the federal dogfighting charges, are not expected at the Nov. 27 hearing, Surry County prosecutor Gerald G. Poindexter said Wednesday.
Poindexter said he hopes to have the trial begin as soon as possible.
“All the good citizens of Surry County I am sure would like to see an end to this, along with a lot of other good people,” the prosecutor said outside the courtroom.
Virginia Beach lawyer Larry Woodward, who will represent Vick on the state charges, said Vick turned himself in last week in the rural county for pre-trial processing and bonding. Vick has been charged with two state felony counts – beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Surry County is where the dogfighting enterprise known as Bad Newz Kennels operated since 2001 on six hectares of land Vick owned.
Woodward’s appearance in court was brief, and he made the long walk to his car afterward without saying a word as about 30 reporters peppered him with questions.
Vick’s lawyers have indicated they will fight the state charges on the grounds he can’t be convicted twice of the same crime. In pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy charge Aug. 27, Vick admitted helping to kill six to eight dogs, among other things.
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From http://www.michaelvickkillsdogs.info:
PETA AND VICK CONSIDER PR PARTNERSHIP
Deal With Vick Would Require an Admission He Is Going to Prison
Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has spoken with representatives from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals about appearing in an advertisement for the animal protection group, but no deal on a partnership has been reached, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk told ABC News Wednesday.
“The requirement from us would have to be extremely strong language,” Newkirk said. “It would have to include Michael Vick saying, ‘We’ve lost everything, and you would, too.’” MORE at http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3685044
Ed. note: We at MVKD find some irony and a great deal of hypocrisy in the high profile role PETA has assumed in the Vick case — a case which is primarily an issue of exploitation and abuse of pit bulls.
PETA is, in fact, no friend to the breed. Not only is PETA in support of breed bans against pit bulls but, moreover, espouses the complete extermination of the breed, regardless of their temperament, history or behavior.
Ingrid Newkirk, president of PETA, has herself been highly vocal in speaking out against pit bulls, and in so doing has perpetuated the harmful myths and negative stereotypes surrounding this much maligned breed. Newkirk wears her hatred for pit bulls on her sleeve, allowing her personal bigotry to fuel public hysteria and discrimination against all pit bulls, the majority of which have proven themselves many times over to be gentle, loving and loyal companions.
It should also be noted that it has only been a few short months since PETA themselves stood trial. In January of this year, two PETA employees, fully backed by PETA’s Newkirk and a highly-paid legal team, stood trial on 24 felony counts, including 21 counts of animal cruelty and obtaining property under false pretenses (lying to the shelters PETA adopted dogs and cats from, then euthanizing the animals rather then finding homes for them.) Thanks to a skilled and manipulative defense team, the two PETA staffers were found guilty only of lesser charges; however, the trial exposed PETA’s shocking record of euthanizing healthy dogs and cats – up to a 90% euthanasia rate — as well as the fact that PETA is singularly responsible for the deaths of over 14,400 dogs, cats and other companion animals during the period of 1998 – 2005. (Source: “PETA’s Dirty Secret” at http://www.petakillsanimals.com/petasdirtysecret.cfm)
Not trying to be rude but Joy, the headline is all wrong. Sadly, Vick is not being sentenced in state court on 11/27 they are just setting a trial date. Big difference.
There is a chance the case might not even get to trial in state court.
Jeff
Thanks for correcting me. You’re not being rude; you’re being helpful.
WOW! I did not know all this about PETA! How can they be People for the ETHICAL treatment of animals and want to kill off a whole breed of dog that God created? Kinda reminds me of Hitler trying to wipe out the Jewish people, doesn’t it? And they want to give Michael Vick National TV coverage? Gee, that could further his football career when he gets out of prison.
Another thing, I wonder if all those movies stars who appear for PETA REALLY know what PETA is all about? Makes you kinda wonder about the movie stars motives for appearing on TV ads.