Sick Vick admits to killing dogs
By Gina Spadafori
August 24, 2007
Bringing up from comments, details on CNN.com:
NFL star Michael Vick has admitted that he and his co-conspirators killed dogs that did not fight well in papers filed on Friday with a federal court in Virginia.
Vick said he would plead guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture,” in a plea agreement filed at the federal district court in Richmond, Virginia.
The charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, “full restitution, a special assessment, and 3 years of supervised release,” the plea deal says.
Federal prosecutors agreed to ask for the low end of the sentencing guidelines.
Let’s see him get anything close to that.
Update: The NFL bravely (sarcasm alert) suspends him indefinitely without pay.
I hope Michael Vick gets Jail time for every dog he killed and how many times he had a dog fight. And how many dogs he had there to fight.
Comment by Jill — August 24, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
the local paper’s story tells it differently
http://content.hamptonroads.co.....393#extras
“By DAVE FORSTER, The Virginian-Pilot
© August 24, 2007 | Last updated 2:14 PM Aug. 24
Michael Vick has agreed in a plea deal with federal prosecutors that he supported a dogfighting enterprise from 2001 to 2007 and that he provided most of the gambling money that his co-defendants used to bet on matches, according to a signed summary of facts released today in the case.
He also admitted that he participated in killing six to eight dogs. “
they have the text of the bargain
dont miss the great pics in the sidebar about the dogs’ fate:
http://content.hamptonroads.co.....;ran=75833
Comment by EmilyS — August 24, 2007 @ 1:38 pm
Surprise surprise…not. We’ve now gone from ….I knew nothing about what was going on at my house to “Yep, I killed them, but at least I didn’t gamble.”
Comment by Andrea 2CatMom — August 24, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
If he admits to gambling, that will seal his fate with respect to the possibility of ever being able to play for the NFL again. They’ll possibly forgive dog torture - er - fighting. But they’ll NEVER forgive gambling!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 24, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
he just got suspended indefinitely!
Comment by straybaby — August 24, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Great news.
He is toast now. John Q Public would have forgiven him for gambling, but not for deliberate dog killing, never ever. What were his expensive lawyers thinking!!
Arthur Blank and his Falcons can get some millions back now from Vick with the indefinite suspension. Mr Arthur Blank is a dog person with two aging labradors who also donates to the Atlanta Humane Society on a regular basis. He might have had a lot to do with the indefinite suspension.
Still a shame that Vick could not have been charged under the new federal animal fighting law(felony) ,that only went into effect in May, 2007 after dragging for many years in congress.
Still a very good day for animals.
I am elated.
Comment by Serijna — August 24, 2007 @ 4:04 pm
Serijna,
the feds are passing their evidence on to the state where he can now face felony animal cruelty charges among others things. i heard up to 40yr max.
i think the indefinite suspension was a good move. it’s almost like they are letting Vick end his own career with his actions. the judge could seal the deal at sentencing. and hopefully the Falcons will get a big chunk of that 22mil signing deal back.
i think vick’s troubles are FAR from over. hopefully he will have some info the feds can use to bust up some more *kennels* under the new felony law.
Comment by straybaby — August 24, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
And let’s not forget that there’s still another prosecution to go [Poindexter], and this one can really do damage, as I understand it.
Just read an article in Sports Illustrated. General NFL personnel consensus is that if and when Vick finishes with prison, that odds are that IF anyone hires him to play for their team, that they’ll pay him peanuts and make him start at the bottom of the rung. The idea is to play good football, not be caught up in a lot of PR work to “clear” his “good” name. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....ion/1.html
Comment by Lynn — August 24, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
you can find Goodell’s letter here in a link under the pic. it’s another pdf doc:
http://espn.go.com/
Comment by straybaby — August 24, 2007 @ 4:42 pm
Oh-oh. Look at this:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294493,00.html
Comment by Lynn — August 24, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
Another article in SI suggests that Vick’s lawyers “have managed to enter into the record a statement of facts that includes less facts than Vick’s critics wanted, that leaves the totality of Vick’s role in the doings of Bad Newz Kennels unknown. As a result, while Vick’s guilt is no longer in question, his level of guilt remains subject to your own interpretation.”
“…Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts of Peace, Phillips and Vick.”
Given the earlier statements by Peace and Phillips, which both included the straightforward line, “All three participated in executing the dogs,” it would seem Vick’s statement of fact confirms that. But what does it mean that Vick stipulates the dogs died “as a result of the collective efforts?” Does that mean Vick merely handed a rope to Peace and Phillips? Does he mean he only turned on the hose that filled the tub the dogs were drowned in? Or, does it mean he slipped a noose around a dog’s neck or held its head under water?
The goal of Vick’s legal team is to distinguish his actions from the other co-defendants, to prove he was not involved in the same gritty way as Peace, Phillips and Tony Taylor…”
We’ll have to wait and see whether his lawyers have succeeded…
Comment by shadepuppy — August 24, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
comment by shadepuppy
The “collective’ is good enough for me and I suspect to the rest of this universe.
After all Peace and Phillips were his paid peons and Vick was the CEO.
If his lawyers had in mind to diffuse his involvement by some clever language, they failed grossly. It does not really matter who did what specifically. Vick was in charge, he held the purse strings.
Comment by Serijna — August 24, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
I’m with Serijna. The public doesn’t care what role he played - he’s admitted to being involved in the murder of the dogs. And since he consistently lied to underplay his role in this whole thing SI is right - we have to infer what his role was. Based on his lies so far, I wouldn’t be suprised if he filmed himself killing the dogs.
Frankly, I can’t wait to see how the Vick apologists try to spin this one.
Comment by Andrea 2CatMom — August 24, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Earlier I mentioned
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294493,00.html
No comments on it. Now the story’s gaining momentum. Itchmo’s carrying it. About rapper DMX and Pit Bulls.
Comment by Lynn — August 24, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
i just noticed this in the SI article:
“Nike, meantime, said it terminated its contract with Vick.”
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....l?bcnn=yes
i didn’t realize they had actually terminated it, thought it was also hanging in suspension.
Comment by straybaby — August 24, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
Maybe there will be some hope for the Vick dogs.
Apparently the ASPCA was contacted by the FEDs for organizing assessment. See link.
http://news.bestfriends.org/in.....23D82722AF
Comment by Serijna — August 24, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Serijna
thanks so much for posting that info! there’s def hope for the dogs if they check them out. they would also be able to rehab if needed as that’s what they do.
did you see the video of some of the dogs at the shelter?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law.....nnSTCVideo
Comment by straybaby — August 24, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
Sick Vic should be sent to jail that also holds the spirits of the many animals that were killed or tortured or simply existed on his property.
They would know how to deal with this sicko even if celebrity justice cannot. Let’s hope he gets a long time to think about how stupid it was to throw away that career when he tortured animals. We won’t forget when and if he does surface again.
Comment by Sindy — August 24, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
yes! Nike did dump Vick!!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....index.html
Comment by straybaby — August 24, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Vick’s fate rests in the hands of a judge on Monday. Prison time for an NFL star may not be as hard as it would be for non-celebrity felons (although there are some things that tend to happen to all men in prison). He may have money saved, and he may own a lot of nice stuff to come home to when he gets out of prison (if he does time), and he’ll still have a lot of fans. I’d like to see a lot of community service work required at animal shelters, plus fines paid to shelters - something that MIGHT get him to see the pain and suffering he was responsible for, and would help some shelters get things they need.
The raid on DMX’s house happened in my general area - the neighbors are quoted saying that DMX hasn’t been in the house for months, and his lawyer says that they hired a caretaker for the dogs. The dogs appear to be healthy but thin (ribs showing)and were found without food/water available to them today (another hot Arizona day). No signs of dog-fighting were seen according to initial reports.
Comment by shadepuppy — August 25, 2007 @ 12:01 am
Shadepuppy, one of the Arizona papers said one of the dead dogs on the property appeared to have been burned, the other two bodies were beyond being able to tell what killed them. Added to that the dogs still alive who had no food or water.
I hope there is an in-depth investigation. Even if there was no dog-fighting, I think they should bring him up on charges of dog abuse.
His property, his dogs. He should be held responsible.
I’m glad to see Vick going down, and only hope the rest of the rings across the country are brought down too.
Katie
Comment by Katie — August 25, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Katie, our county sheriff, Joe Arpaio, is known for being strong on animal-welfare issues. I don’t know if DMX can be charged for neglect, but the dogs will be protected, and if there are any charges that can be filed, Sheriff Joe will do it loudly.
Comment by shadepuppy — August 25, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
You know what sickens me the most about Vick?
He’s not holding back admitting he killed the dogs he’s trying to cover the betting so in his sick mind he might be able to get back to the NFL some day.
I’d like to see the maximum jail time and a mandate that he’ll never play pro football again or be involved as a coach etc.
Comment by Lilly and Lucy's mom — August 25, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....ml?cnn=yes
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 25, 2007 @ 8:15 pm
Comment by Lilly and Lucy’s mom — August 25, 2007 @ 3:46 pm
Ditto. WTF? Why is it more acceptable to the sports world to torture dogs than to gamble?
And did anyone else hear the CNN interview this morning? They talked to a Wash Post reporter who’s been talking to Vick’s estranged dad. According to the reporter, Dad is saddened, but not surprised. Says the QB always had a fascination with animals fighting. The reporter says Dad told him that when Vick was a boy in Newport News, he and his buddies used to “go down to the lumberyard and sic dogs on cats.”
Sic(k) is right.
Comment by Laura — August 25, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
comment by Laura
Vick’s “father” LOL. I would take any remark made by that character with a grain of salt.
Some fine pair. They deserve each other.
http://freedomeden.blogspot.co.....oddie.html
Comment by Serijna — August 26, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Do you hear about the Trainer that got arrested because the police think he gave the grayhounds at the Daytona race track Cocaine and three dogs were found dead and they think the trainer did it. He can’t train any dogs or have one on him.
Comment by Jill — August 26, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
2.
Vick is STILL getting SPECIAL treatment and it makes me sick.
How FAST did this happen? He should have had to endure the slow grind of the justice system, like any “consumer” would have had to endure.
I saw this part-
In the plea deal, Vick agreed to cooperate with investigators and provide all information he may have on any criminal activity and to testify if necessary. Vick also agreed to turn over any documents he has and to submit to polygraph tests.
Vick agreed to “make restitution for the full amount of the costs associated” with the dogs that are being held by the government.
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“Such costs may include, but are not limited to, all costs associated with the care of the dogs involved in that case, including if necessary, the long-term care and/or the humane euthanasia of some or all of those animals.”
That is EXACTLY what I want from the pet food poisoners and the apology too! And 5 months , going on 6 since the recall, a FREAKING year since the pets started dying and the suffering began and WHERE ARE THE ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS FOR US!!!???
Citizens who pay taxes, do NOT fight dogs, pay astounding vet bills due to to FRAUD and have uncounted dead and wounded pets, well, WE COUNT TOO!
I think we count for MORE than a dog fighting weasel!
And oh yeah, we alerted the country if not the entire world, about being slowly poisoned and for THAT alone we did more public service than a freaking dog fighting football player.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 9:07 am