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Michael Vick Sentenced to 23 Months in Jail for Role in Dogfighting Conspiracy
Click here for FOXNEWS link ^

Posted on 12/10/2007 9:43:43 AM PST by Gopher Broke

RICHMOND, Va. — Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy that involved gambling and killing pit bulls.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have been sentenced up to five years by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Vick, who turned himself in Nov. 19 in anticipation of his sentence, was wearing a black-and-white striped prison suit.

After Vick apologized to the court and his family, Hudson told him: "You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you."

"Yes, sir," Vick answered.

Vick acknowledged he used "poor judgment" and added, "I'm willing to deal with the consequences and accept responsibility for my actions."

Federal rules governing time off for good behavior could reduce Vick's prison stay by about three months, resulting in a summer 2009 release.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: dogfighting; michael; sentencing; vick; virginia
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To: deport

Sorry, but I believe you are wrong. The reason she was not eligible for a reduction in sentence for “good behavior” is that the applicable statute (18 USC 3624) only allows for such reductions if the sentence is for more than one year. And, I do not believe that someone getting a “mandatory minimum” sentence of more than one year is per se ineligible for a “good behavior” reduction in that sentence.


21 posted on 12/10/2007 10:20:59 AM PST by The Noodle
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To: Secret Agent Man

I wasn’t aware of that. That’s rather shocking.

I’m no fan of Peta at all. And this simply reinforces my contempt for them.


22 posted on 12/10/2007 10:22:47 AM PST by DoughtyOne (California, where the death penalty is reserved for wholesome values. SB 777)
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To: Gopher Broke
Already posted.
23 posted on 12/10/2007 10:28:23 AM PST by MotleyGirl70 (We don’t have borders, we have swiss cheese lines.~~~Go Packers!~~~)
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To: subterfuge

you’ll get no argument from me.
I think many “journalists” would’ve been less outraged had Vick gone the more common route and smacked his woman around.


24 posted on 12/10/2007 1:22:00 PM PST by WOBBLY BOB (I think I'll buy everyone a carbon credit for Christmas.)
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To: WOBBLY BOB

Man, people lighten up, they were pitbulls for cryin’ out loud. He was stompin’ cockroaches for all intents and purposes.


25 posted on 12/10/2007 1:42:30 PM PST by tupac (The Crux of the Biscuit - is the Apostrophe....)
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To: 3AngelaD
But I bet he is out in less than a year.

The over/under is 9 months.

26 posted on 12/10/2007 3:07:16 PM PST by evad
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To: subterfuge

Why is Michael Vick being jailed for 23 months? Fine him, fine. Force him to do thousands hours of community service, sounds good to me. Unless the dogs belong to someone else, there’s no reason to put Vick in jail. Dogs are property, not human beings.


27 posted on 12/10/2007 5:44:54 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: Gopher Broke

A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

28 posted on 12/11/2007 5:15:38 AM PST by relictele (Clarence White & Don Rich RIP)
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To: relictele

Multiple minds are even worse.

29 posted on 12/11/2007 5:19:59 AM PST by relictele (Clarence White & Don Rich RIP)
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To: tupac
Man, people lighten up, they were pitbulls for cryin’ out loud.
He was stompin’ cockroaches for all intents and purposes.

You have been and continue to be an idiot of the first degree.

30 posted on 12/11/2007 5:33:23 AM PST by kanawa (Don't go where you're looking, look where you're going.)
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To: kanawa

Elvis On. “Thank you very much. Elvis off.


31 posted on 12/11/2007 7:08:44 AM PST by tupac (The Crux of the Biscuit - is the Apostrophe....)
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To: subterfuge
I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m an Atlanta fan, but never been all that big on Vick. Great athlete, not a great QB. I’m also a dog lover, rescuer, & adoptor & I don’t like what he did one bit! But his sentence is way out of line! If this was Joe Smoe from Newport, Va. he may have gotten 90 days. My sister-in-law is an Atl cop. They bust dog fights regularly. The fighters $ is taken & they are given a $500 fine. The dogs are taken to the pound where in 36hrs all of us great lovers of dogs allow the city to gas them. Mike Vick is a victim of his culture. No more no less. He ain’t a bright guy, he’s a gifted athlete! I’m a middle aged white guy who doesn’t understand the culture, but I got a big heart for dogs. They are my great joy in life...But i got a heart for people too. I’m sad for Mike. I don’t believe he’s got a mean bone in his body. He’s not mean or sadistic. He’s a poor young black guy that never got the proper upbringing. As a society we scream bloody murder when rich guy gets it & as a society we allow 10’s of thousands of dogs to die EVERY DAY in a gas chamber. People have been so quick to condemn Mike. What the hell are they doing to stop the dailey killing! Nothing! Just high & mighty to scream for a guys head while failing to demand spay & neuter! Lots of compassion for Vick's dogs, but do nothing about the poor neglected dogs at the pound. I try as best I can to help some that I can, but I won’t forget to have compassion for this poor soul who’s lost every thing including his freedom! One should never throw rocks in glass houses. Just my thought!
32 posted on 12/14/2007 8:42:32 AM PST by JackHawk ("Some Times; War is the answer!")
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To: JackHawk
Mike Vick is a victim of his culture. No more no less. He ain’t a bright guy, he’s a gifted athlete

This is why I think he couldn't convey enough groveling for the court and ended up with a too large sentence. He said all the right things---the judge just wasn't buying it. I guess he wanted Vick to cry and beg or something.

having said that. I really didn't know the details of what they did to those dogs and from what I've heard recently I'm inclined to cut Michael a little LESS slack. But he still got too much time, imo.

Good luck against my Bucs this weekend!

sub

33 posted on 12/14/2007 11:47:31 AM PST by subterfuge (HILLARY IS: She who must NOT be Dismayed)
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To: DoughtyOne

It seems hypocritical however, a woman can shoot her preacher husband in the back while he slept and she gets three months. These movie stars and athletes kill their wives and get off absolutely free. it just seems there could have been something more constructive than prison. I am a big animal lover, but it does seem kind of nuts.


34 posted on 12/14/2007 3:47:03 PM PST by mel
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To: Secret Agent Man

Why did they say they did that


35 posted on 12/14/2007 3:48:53 PM PST by mel
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To: subterfuge

I love animals also, but this seems kind of crazy. There seems there should have been a more profitable way to punish Vick than simply prison.


36 posted on 12/14/2007 3:49:47 PM PST by mel
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To: mel

Mel, I agree that our justice system seems nuts at times. I’m not going to fault you for thinking there should be a better penalty for this. About all I can think of is what kind of unjuries to dogs this guy must have witnessed, for sport. If he can do that, I seriously wonder what other pain he’s willing to observe, and if it would be limited to animals. Thanks for your comments.


37 posted on 12/14/2007 3:58:53 PM PST by DoughtyOne (California, where the death penalty is reserved for wholesome values. SB 777)
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To: JackHawk

You nailed it perfectly


38 posted on 12/14/2007 3:59:07 PM PST by mel
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To: DoughtyOne

I think post 38 describes my thoughts


39 posted on 12/14/2007 4:00:03 PM PST by mel
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To: mel

Mel, once again I appreciate your input, this time via another person’s post.

My responsibility is to take care of the animals I am responsible for. End of story...

Other owners are responsible for their animals. Animal shelters are there because good people do go down and volunteer, or they have been privately or publicly set up to deal with the problem. The fact that many of those animals are put down, is terrible. It still doesn’t make the public at large on the same level as Vic.

To my way of thinking, it is unfortunate when peopel tie together two problems in this manner. What Vic did was inexcusable. This isn’t just kicking your mut, being too harsh or not watering or feeding them on a regular basis. This was a group of people who get their kicks from watching other living beings mutilate each other in combat.

Perhaps Vic did have poor upbringing. I won’t aruge with that. It would seem to fit. Is that a justified reason to be lenient? As an adult, are we to think he just didn’t know better? Come on bud, nobody had to tell you that this was wrong did they? I can’t remember anyone in my upbringing taking me aside and telling me that dog fighting was bad. It’s something you know.

If some people are getting off with a $50 dollar fine, that’s something I would like to see addressed. Excusing Vic’s penalty because others get a free pass is not the answer.

Those guilty of participating in dog fights should get the book thrown at them. I don’t care who they are.


40 posted on 12/14/2007 4:19:00 PM PST by DoughtyOne (California, where the death penalty is reserved for wholesome values. SB 777)
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