Embattled Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and his attorneys were still negotiating with federal prosecutors Thursday, hoping to strike a deal on a plea agreement.
The Atlanta Falcons star quarterback pleaded not guilty to dogfighting conspiracy charges last month. But since then, one of his co-defendants has changed his plea to guilty and agreed to testify against Vick, and two others are scheduled to do likewise Friday.
Prosecutors, meantime, have said they will seek a superseding indictment this month. Legal experts say the growing parade of prosecution witnesses and the prospect of additional charges increases the pressure on Vick to negotiate a deal.
Tony Taylor of Hampton pleaded guilty to those charges last month and will be sentenced Dec. 14. Co-defendants Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach, and Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, will enter plea agreements Friday morning.
According to the statement signed by Taylor as part of his plea agreement, Vick financed virtually all of the "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting enterprise on Vick's property in Surry County, Va.
Taylor's statement and the July 17 indictment also linked Vick to betting on the dogfights, which could result in a lifetime ban from the NFL under the league's policy against gambling. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has barred Vick from the Falcons' training camp but has withheld further action until the league completes its own investigation.
The case began with the April search of the Surry County property. Investigators found dozens of pit bulls, some of them injured, as well as equipment commonly used in dogfighting.
The indictment said dogs that lost fights or fared poorly in test fights were sometimes executed by hanging, electrocution or other means. The details have fueled public protests against Vick and have cost him some of his lucrative endorsement deals.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Vick Negotiating With Prosecutors
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2 comments:
This is a waste of time. Prosecutors are not going to put a pro football star in jail. Just let the man pay a $50 fine and let him go back to work. If OJ can kill his wife and get away with it, then Vick can surely kill a few dogs. The county animal control shelter kills more dogs in a day than Vick killed in his whole life. Athletic stars are far too important to be hassled by law-enforcement officials.
It is not a waste of time. They better put him in jail. Thats what he deserves. He should pay more then a 50 dollar fine. OJ did kill and get away with so what.The county animal is supposed 2 kill dogs, me u mike vick have no right to kill 1 or 8 dogs and if we do and get caught we must pay the price. If martha and paris went to jail , vick deserves alot more then they got.athlethic stars are no more impotant then u and i when they commit a crime. he must go 2 jail if found guilty which he def is.once a savage always a savage
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