Posted on 08/14/2007 11:12:16 AM PDT by libstripper
Michael Vick's attorneys are engaged in plea negotiations with federal prosecutors and the Falcons quarterback could reach an agreement before new dogfighting charges are handed down next week, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
I heard, on the local news that he had until Friday to plead “guilty” or new charges would be added. Now, I have no idea what those could be, but apparently that threat was sufficient to move this guy.
Vick’s lawyers can negotiate forever, but it will never change public perception of Vick. DOG KILLER!
Vick is proving No. 7 to be an unlucky number...wish they could tie a T-bone to his neck and toss him to some Amstaffs I have known.
My guess: No jail time, community service, huge fine, one year suspension from NFL, loss of millions in endorsements.
Hello, Canadian Football League!
He should hire Sandy Berger’s lawyer.
Forget the plea. File additional charges and take him to trial.
I’m sick of this animal and his whole “It’s all good” attitude.
I wonder if the average Joe would be getting this treatment?
This guy was a multi-millionaire, yet he tried to make money in the death, mutilation, and mistreatment of hapless dogs. Do you want to take your kids to see him?
I think Ron Mexico career is DONEEEE
I don’t think so. I think whatever deal they give him-—especially if they have additional charges they could add-—will require them to give him some jail time. Personally-—and he’s innocent until PROVEN guilty or declares himself guilty-—I think he must do some jail time on this.
The average Joe wouldn’t be Federally prosecuted for dog-fighthing. Where’s the publicity in that?
The state of Virginia was sitting on its hands, not moving forward with the case that they should have prosecuted. This is why the Feds took over.
The average Joe would probably get off a lot easier. High profile case like this are a prosecutor’s giga-wet dream come true. The massive publicity assures terrific deterrence if the defendant is either convicted or forced to plead guilty, something that isn’t available if an average Joe is prosecuted. Vick was the ideal target because he was one of the best known NFL quarterbacks and because he appears to be a godfather of the eastern dog fighting racket, going so far as to construct a dog fighter’s Disney World. It’s just like the Martha Stewart and Leona Helmsley prosecutions.
Equally important, Vick probably knows a great deal about the dog fighting racket, meaning any plea deal will probably force him to rat out all the other people and operations he knows about. If that happens, he’ll be permanently on the PETA and gangsta excrement lists. From the standpoint of the Feds, a great day’s work and mucho bang for the enforcement bucks.
You forgot to mention that the average prosecutor is a politcally ambitious glory hound that loves to read his/her name in the paper and see his/her face on TV flanked by reporters.
Vick is sitting up and begging after his accomplices rolled over and played dead?
What a heel!
In 1999, Title 18, Section 48 was added to the U.S. Code, making it a federal crime to “knowingly create, sell or possess a depiction of animal cruelty with the intention of placing that depiction in interstate or foreign commerce for commercial gain.” The term “depiction of animal cruelty” means any visual or auditory depiction, including any photograph, motion-picture film, video recording, electronic image, or sound recording of conduct in which a living animal is intentionally maimed, mutilated, tortured, wounded, or killed—if such conduct is illegal under federal law or the law of the state in which the creation, sale, or possession takes place, regardless of whether the maiming, mutilation, torture, wounding, or killing took place in the state. ... In 2007, Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act with strong bipartisan support. The Act became law in May 2007, and provides for felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export relating to commerce in fighting dogs, fighting cocks and cock fighting paraphernalia. |
(from the ASPCA)
Now, how often it gets prosecuted is a separate matter. I couldn't readily find national statistics. I expect we'll be hearing a lot more about this in the near future.
I’m not so sure he will rat out other people. It’s definitely possible.
If I had to bet... I’d bet someone named Marcus is in the supplemental indictment.
That’s would be a simpler explanation for the sudden change to negotiate a plea.
Please tell me you are not trying to excuse this jackass. I could care less who prosecutes this bum just so long as justice is served. Breeding dogs to kill each other for fun and profit is disgusting and reprehensible.
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