The plea agreement that Michael Vick filed in federal court today reveals that by pleading guilty, Vick is admitting to a crime that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. However, a more likely sentence is a year to a year and a half in prison, as prosecutors said they will recommend that the judge sentence Vick "at the low end of the applicable guideline range" if he "cooperates fully and truthfully."
Vick will also have to pay restitution, which likely includes the care for the 66 dogs that have been in government custody since they were seized from Vick's property in April. All 66 dogs are expected to be put down.
Although some of Vick's defenders have suggested that he's pleading guilty to avoid a trial, and not because he's actually guilty of the crimes he's been accused of, Vick makes it clear in his own signed statement that he is guilty. The statement reads: "The defendant will plead guilty because the defendant is in fact guilty of the charged offense."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-24-2007 @ 2:48PM
Shaun said...
I don't know where this Vick is getting one year is coming from. Vick isn't getting less than Tony Taylor who at most is getting 1 year. Given his leadership role in the dog fighting enterprise and lack of contrition, Hudson is more likely to sentence Vick to the higher end. I see 24 months in Vick's future with this judge who has doubled the fed guidelines in the past.
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8-24-2007 @ 3:35PM
nickstoli said...
While it's probably true that people not guilty of the crime for which they are charged, sometimes plead guilty to that crime, there is NO FARKING WAY AN INNOCENT MICHAEL VICK would plead guilty to this!!!
His lawyer got Jayson "Shotgun" Williams off!!! Why wouldn't he get an innocent Vick off?
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8-24-2007 @ 3:50PM
nickstoli said...
An Open Letter to the NFL,
Please let Vick play football again. Please, please, please.
Signed,
NFL DBs
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8-24-2007 @ 4:08PM
Reasonable said...
I am extremely disappointed in the DAs' joint decision to allow this prospective "slap on the wrist" plea agreement. I am further INCENSED that Vick's plea agreement and statement of facts were rewritten *without* many of the harsh details included in those filed for Peace, Phillips, and Taylor. It just goes to show, don't rat on the bigger fish -- because only the average, anonymous, poor or working-class person will the full and standard price for committing even a grotesque crime.
If he wants to help end the cruel, disgusting practice of dogfighting, Judge Hudson should start by rejecting this weak, watered-down document submitted by the millionaire attorneys of a multimillionaire client. Michael Vick. Silent. Unrepentant. Persistently disingenuous (in other words, a LIAR).
The prosecutors have disgraced themselves.
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8-24-2007 @ 4:12PM
cb7334 said...
i think michael vick should stick with football and stay focused on football not hang otu with people that will get him in trouble and throw him in jail hes a great quarterback and i think his team mates dont like seeing their best quaterback not play with them
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8-24-2007 @ 4:23PM
S. Spillett said...
I think this horrible person whether he a star or not should be made to send millions of Dollars to the Dog Shelters. I think the Judge stinks with his decision. This just shows to the world If you have Money you get away with anything. I hope Vick & his Fancy Lawyer can sleep good at nite thinking about those poor Dogs he KILLED owl998
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8-24-2007 @ 4:51PM
patrick said...
i think michael vick's should start doing cherity work in africa than spending more money on dogs he does'nt care about..
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8-24-2007 @ 5:10PM
softailrdsashovl said...
Michael Vick you are a DISGRACE to the HUMAN RACE... .
Michael Vicks Lawyer said "His crime is, it was a dog," White said.
"Some have said things to save their own necks," White said. "Michael Vick has received more negative press than if he had killed a human being."
I THINK MICHAEL VICK SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
He took great pleasure in torturing those animals. Michael Vick you can “find sympathy in the dictionary between Shit and Syphilis”.
The race card has no place here. Stop using it as a way out!
Michael Vick, you are a Coward;
You keep those dogs to compensate for what you lack…. BALLS
You are despicable,
And then to say that people kill Deer all the time… they are killed with a single gun shot. They are not tortured and left in AGONY. I hope that you spend the rest of your days Behind Bars and every once in awhile someone should dip your ass in beef broth and throw one of those dogs you taught to love blood so much.. in with you.
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8-24-2007 @ 5:13PM
softailrdsashovl said...
I think that Michael Vick should BE FORCED
DONATE ALL his future earnings to the ASPCA... and PIT BULL RESCUE
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8-24-2007 @ 5:52PM
Stephen J Mandich said...
Rich or poor it pays to have money and fame and a Lawyer that has no morals. If Joe Blow, mr average American, would have been caught in this position they would throw away the key.
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8-24-2007 @ 6:15PM
Dee said...
I was going to write something about Michael Vick, but after reading what number 8. just said...I can't improve on it one bit. (8. softailrdsashovl)
Number 8. you said it all...!!!
P.S. For me...anyway. Thanks.
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8-24-2007 @ 6:15PM
Dixie said...
No way should this sub-human ever hold a football again. If he is allowed to return the public is going to be mighty pissed. I know I will. I say throught the book at him.
Kick Him Out!
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8-25-2007 @ 1:12AM
claire said...
if by chance the judge should be reading these messages. i am asking that you please give this serial dog killer the max you are able to give under this plea deal. that's the least you can do for these four legged babies who need justice. please think of their terror and pain. please think you are their voice. this is their chance at justice. this idiot has no remorse. let him think about it in prison. he has never apologized for what he has done to them. please please please YOUR HONOR give him the max your able to under your power.
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8-25-2007 @ 2:36PM
bbfreak said...
I'll be disappointed if Vick's only gets one year in jail, mostly because he was clearly the front man of the whole operation and as such should be punished within the full letter of the law. No more, no less. This also means he shouldn't be banned from playing ball, considering his crime isn't football related. I'd rather let the fans sort out whether they want Vick still in the NFL, because even though he did make a mistake he does deserve a second chance. NOT though, until he pays his debt to society in full.
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