Vick pleads guilty to state dogfighting charges

[IDemo]

Source: Associated Press

updated 21 minutes ago

SUSSEX, Va. - Michael Vick arrived in a suit and shackles for a court appearance Tuesday and later pleaded guilty to state dogfighting charges, a necessary step to make him eligible for early release.

Federal law prohibits prisoners from being released to a halfway house if there are unresolved charges pending.

A plea agreement between Vick's legal team and Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter calls for the former Atlanta Falcons star to plead guilty to two felony counts - beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting - in Surry County Circuit Court.

Each state felony count is punishable by up to five years in prison, but the plea agreement calls for the 28-year-old Vick to receive a suspended sentence and one year of probation.

Read more: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27907258/

[Obamastore2009]

1. Michael Vick Release date

I really hope this guy has been rehabilitated. I get ill every time I see pictures of those dogs they found at his house.

It seems that he has been immortalized as a chew toy and its about the only thing you can find anymore with his name on it. This is a bit comical too but just as sick as the original crime.

http://www.VickDogChewToy.com

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

51. Dog toy parody = killing dogs

That's a sick analogy.

BTW, sociopaths can't be rehabbed, so he'll be just as fucking twisted when he gets out. He should rot for life. Violent criminals should never be let out, and those who hurt animals often move up to hurting people.

[BurningMan]

2. 10 years?

"...but the plea agreement calls for the 28-year-old Vick to receive a suspended sentence and one year of probation."

Which is really a more reasonable sentence for the crime anyways. It costs a lot of money to incarcerate a person for 10 years, and yes I do find that extreme for "beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting."

Sure, Vicks actions certainly make him an asshole, but there are better ways to deal with assholes than locking them up making them a greater burden on the state.

[hlthe2b]

4. Your compassion is noted....

maybe he will graduate to dogfights against small children.... Will THAT be enough to warrent a few years? :eyes:

[BurningMan]

5. dog = child?

Being capable of differentiating between a child and a dog, I would have to answer that yes I think staging fights between children and dogs is a greater crime than simply staging dog fights and should carry a greater penalty.

In less verbose terms, "Duh."

[hlthe2b]

10. Yeah, tough guy...

Enjoy your short stay here.

[qanda]

25. I thought the poster was somewhat reasoned in their response

Having a different opinion than you doesn't make someone a troll.

[BurningMan]

34. Come again?

My "short stay?" Dissenting opinions are a ban-worthy offense at DU?

I find it hypocritical that a society which had industrialized the processing of certain animals for food, clothing, and some forms of entertainment will pass judgment on those who use other animals for other forms of entertainment. Just as I find it ironic that some people hear think that the answer to this sitatuion is to murder the perp.

[psychopomp]

35. No prob, dude

Welcome to DU! :toast:

[natrat]

57. i am vegetarian and yes i think he should be put down-good thing i dont make the rules

[smiley]

13. Dogs do equal children in many peoples eyes

I think the man should get the death penalty personally. It's a despicable crime.

[kwolf68]

43. Speaking of DUH

You do realize there is a correlation between brutality against animals and that against people right?

So while you may think yourself slick with your dog=child pablum, the problem is you come off looking ignorant and nieve. To be so cavalier about animal abuse such as this is amoral to begin with (because you don't give a shit about the dogs), but it's also actions that indicate a potential threat to humanity (so even if you don't give a shit about the dogs, he's still dangerous).

Oh yea, Vick is not only an asshole, but he's a goddamn criminal. He broke laws...our humane society has actually erected laws that promote compassion (at least to some extent) toward our animal friends. You do the crime, you do the time.

You want to clean out the jails? Relese the people there for drug offenses.

[BurningMan]

45. wow...

You're just all over the place. First off, don't confuse a correlation with causality. You may call dog fights torture, but to the men running the show it's just business and sport. These guys were obviously threats to dogs, but saying that they are then a threat to "humanity" is just asinine.

Also, you'll find that I was responding to someone else's comparison of dogs to children. You can call it an over-simplification on my part (as you did) but the comparison was offered as a literal.

I also never suggested that Vick should go unpunished, only that 10 years seemed ridiculously excessive. It's not the same position, so please don't treat it like it is.

And while I agree with the idea of pardoning all non-violent drug offenders, I do have to point out that this really doesn't have any bearing on the topic at hand.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

52. Those who are cruel to animals are likely to be dangerous to people

So, I say, keep him locked up.

Duh.

[bitchkitty]

58. Psycho = Psycho

I'm sure you wouldn't want him around your kids, much less your dogs.

[ryanmuegge]

62. Both are pretty heinous, but I agree with you.

It's sick as hell, but I do think some people are overreacting slightly about it.

[acmavm]

8. It's ignorant comparisons like that amaze me.

[hlthe2b]

9. It is well known that those who torture animals often turn to people

It is you who is ignorant apparently.

[acmavm]

18. Well known to who? You?

That was just stupid. Face it.

edit: If you were in a 'critical thinking' class, you would have just flunked.

[hlthe2b]

19. I read... you apparently do not.

Try it... You might just like being educated. :eyes:


Start here: http://www.americanhumane.org/human-animal-bond/programs/the-link-of-violence/
and here: http://www.americanhumane.org/assets/docs/HAB-LINK-exploring-the-link.pdf

[acmavm]

20. Go away. It DOES NOT FOLLOW that everyone who abuses

animals will do the same to a human being.

You might read but obviously you do NOT comprehend.

[hlthe2b]

21. 1. I never said EVERYONE (there's that poor reading comprehension

of yours again. (Do I need to define the word "often" for you?) 2. I have EVERY right to post a rebuttal to your nonsense. 3. You may go away and remain ignorant as you please or stay, as you wish. I believe in democracy and freedom of speech.

[acmavm]

23. Sure, you did. Here ya go...

<snip>

maybe he will graduate to dogfights against small children.... Will THAT be enough to warrent a few years?

<snip>

Too bad you couldn't have gone back and edited your idiotic statement, then you wouldn't look like such a hyperventilating fool.

And you really should quit patting yourself on the back about 1) your intellect and; 2) your reading comprehension.

You suck at both.

[hlthe2b]

24. ROFL

thanks for proving my point. :rofl:

[acmavm]

26. No, you just again proved mine. Now just go away and annoy

some people in your own mental class. Maybe some kids. Then you really will have something to talk about in regard to child abuse.

[hlthe2b]

28. You did prove something, LOL

but sorry, little acmavm, you don't get to decide who posts ... Feel free to hit the ignore button. Though, I would imagine your list is getting a bit large by now.

[acmavm]

30. I have no one on ignore. Idiots amuse me. You're now at the

top of the list.

[hlthe2b]

44. ...

[smiley]

22. that made absolutely no sense.

and sounded quite juvenile. good job!

[emilyg]

48. Perhaps you should do a little

more reading. Many child abusers start out as animal abusers.

[michreject]

29. While it may be true that many who torture people

started out on animals, not all who torture animals progress to people.

[montanto]

38. WTF? There's some logic for you.

"maybe he will graduate to dogfights against small children"

[nyc 4 Biden]

11. Why consider the financial costs when incarcerating criminals?

"It costs a lot of money to incarcerate a person for 10 years"

Yea, and? You can say that with anyone convicted of anything. This asshole put family pets in the ring to be torn apart by the fighters for practice. I think 10 years sounds fine. Fuck him, i have no sympathy for him.

[BurningMan]

37. It's called "reality."

The financial burden is worth considering because it is a very real facet of incarceration.

Besides, dog are just animals. They make good workers, better friends, fair sport, and don't taste bad either. If someone wants to argue that all animal life (man and beast) has equal value then I encourage them to do so, and I think that there is a valid point to be made. But I will say this: If that person consumes the products of the global animal-product industry then they are discrediting their position before they even begin.

In this country we use, abuse, and murder animals for sport, food, and clothing. You may not see the connection, and I agree that it is open to interpretation, but I'd bet dollars to dimes that the prosecutor for this case was wearing leather shoes, and had a leather belt holding up his pants in which he kept his leather wallet as he made the case about how these animals were mistreated, and that strikes me as something of a severe contradiction.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

39. So by your logic he should be able to make millions by being in the NFL so he can pay taxes on it

and therefore benefit the greater society economically. This evil prick is a sociopath, an inveterate liar that should be isolated from the society he scorns by his anti-social behavior. An individual who kills by repeatedly slamming to the ground a live sentient being and displaying pleasure from this behavior should not be defended by any rational person. If being a shameful apologist for this type of behavior enhances your ego or motivates you emotionally it can only leave me to wonder about the depths of insensitivity or ignorance that is presented by this, seemingly, considered opinion. Have a nice day since I have already wasted too much of mine being disgusted by this base a level of thoughtlessness.

[BurningMan]

40. Your reactionary emotionalism has been noted.

[RattusRattus]

55. Good points

Considering the animals. Additionally, medical care is based largely on work done by scientists working with, among other things, animals. I used to have to sack mice at my last job for dissection, and I'd cry when they'd tremble in my hands. That said, I think the fact that there is so much animal abuse built into our society, that's even more of a reason that we should protest Vick's cruelty. The reason why his cohorts squealed is they knew that they would not receive the same treatment in court. He'll probably never progress to torturing humans, but I still think he shouldn't be given celebrity justice.

[flvegan]

12. You think a year of probation is a reasonable punishment?

Ahhhh...the brilliance astounds me.

[High Plains]

15. He's already serving a prison sentence. How much more do you want?

[hlthe2b]

17. Well, I could think of quite a bit more...

but, I'll just leave it to the imagination....:mad:

[flvegan]

33. On Federal charges.

He has additional State charges he should have to answer for. Additionally, the State charges are the ones with real bite.

How much more do I want? Simple justice and time for his crimes. He hasn't suffered enough.

[Thothmes]

41. If it had not been for public opinion and the Federal interest

in this dog fighting ring, Poindexter would have never filed any charges against Vick.

[emilyg]

49. A lot more for that piece of scum.

[gizmo1979]

42. I agree.

He's done his time paid his debt,it's time to move on.It has cost him prison time and 28 million dollars.It's a horrible crime but how much is enough?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Maybe Whoopi and Jaime can sing "Kumbaya" on the courthouse steps.

...because, as we all know, Mike's really a nice guy as well as the real victim in all of this. He's just so misunderstood. He's suffered enough. Set him free, with a big wet sloppy kiss on the cheek and an apology from all of us.

:sarcasm:



Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick arrives at the Sussex County Courthouse in Sussex, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008. Vick is expected to plead guilty to local dogfighting charges.
(AP Photo/Steve Helber)



PETA protesters hold signs as they protest outside the Michael Vick hearing at the Sussex County Courthouse in Sussex, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008. Vick is expected to plead guilty to local dogfighting charges.
(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Whoopi Goldberg Defends Vick

Tuesday, September 4, 2007 – updated: 12:45 pm EDT September 4, 2007

NEW YORK -- Whoopi Goldberg started her stint on ABC's "The View" Tuesday by coming to the defense of convicted felon Michael Vick.

Just 15 minutes into the show she brought up Vick's conviction on dogfighting charges.

"You know from his background this is not an unusual thing for where he comes from," said Goldberg.

"There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of our country."

Co-host Joy Behar seemed shocked at Goldberg's statements.

"How about dog torture and dog murdering," Behar asked.

"Unfortunately it's part of the thing," Goldberg replied.

"You're a dog lover. For a lot of people dogs are sport," she added.

Behar continued to shake her head in disgust.

Goldberg said it seemed to her that it took a while for Vick to realize that the charges against him were serious.

"It seemed like a light went off in his head when he realized that this was something the entire country really didn't appreciated, didn't like," Goldberg said, referring to Vick's guilty plea.

She said if the case had involved somebody from New York City her feelings would have been different.

Goldberg pointed out that Vick was raised in the South.

"This is part of his cultural upbringing," said Goldberg.

Co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck said she was encouraged by the NFL suspending Vick indefinitely.

But Goldberg continued to defend Vick saying "This is a kid who comes from a culture when this is not questioned."

It was Goldberg's first day moderating the talk show. She took over from Rosie O'Donnell who quit the show earlier this year after feuds with Donald Trump and Hasselbeck.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/14040573/detail.html

Foxx defends Vick over dog fighting charges
Actor says QB ‘didn’t read his handbook on what not to do as a black star’

Access Hollywood
updated 2:53 p.m. PT, Thurs., Aug. 23, 2007

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson recently sat down with Jamie Foxx for a candid talk about Jamie’s new gig, and even a hot button topic from the world of sports: Michael Vick’s dog fighting charges.

Foxx is busy doing his thing on “The Foxxhole,” his weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio show. And although an incredible LG Beach House in Malibu provides a spectacular summer backdrop, no subject is off-limits with Jamie, as Robinson found out during her stay as a special guest.

“Is he really going to jail?” Foxx asked about Vick.

“Yes, he’s going to plea bargain,” Robinson said.

Although Vick has been almost universally condemned since agreeing to plead guilty to dog fighting conspiracy, people should not be so quick to judge the NFL star, Foxx said.

Although he has a way of lightening even the most sensitive of subjects, Foxx sounded sincere in his belief that the quarterback is not being given a fair shake.

“I know that cruelty to animals is bad, but sometimes people shoot people and kill people and don’t get time,” Foxx said. “I think in this situation, he really didn’t know the extent of it, so I always give him the benefit of the doubt.”

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/20414907/

[DeepBlueDem]

7. Joey Porter

Whether timely or not, Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter never manages to have a dull opinion about anything these days.

The latest installment? On Thursday, Porter offered his opinion on former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who is currently imprisoned in the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth for bankrolling a dogfighting ring in Virginia.

Vick, who is scheduled for release in July after a 23-month sentence, reportedly has attorneys who believe he will be reinstated to play in the NFL once he has fulfilled that time.

When asked whether Vick deserves to play again, Porter stood behind Vick.

“He’s already been punished enough,” Porter said. “They gave him his penalty, and he’s paying his penalty. What else should they do to him now?”

Porter, an owner of two pit bulls himself, said he doesn’t understand why people are so quick to condemn Vick. Porter contends those same people who are against Vick don’t often like pit bulls anyway.

“That’s the funny thing about it,” Porter said. “If you want to get back on that topic, I’ve got pit bulls and I’ve got to put them under a different breed just to travel. You can’t even fly pit bulls anywhere.

“So it’s not like he was fighting cocker spaniels or something, something they like. They don’t even too much care about pit bulls.”

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/football/story/901760.html

[hlthe2b]

16. Moron...

So was he hit in the head too many times or just born STUPID?

[Mike Daniels]

27. Wow, am I glad Porter's no longer with Pittsburgh

I'd hate to think I'd have to cheer/applaud anytime that jackass made a great defensive play.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

53. WTF?

As far as I'm concerned, I think Porter needs to be investigated for those statements.

I love pit bulls, and I think Michael Vick should never see the light of day.

[hamsterjill]

6. Getting off easy

In my mind, this jerk is getting off easy with the prison time.

The real test will be to see if any endorsements are ever offered him again, or if he's ever able to play professional ball again anywhere. I don't think he will. I think he's too much of a liability for any company to touch.

And perhaps, THAT is the punishment that will mean the most to Michael Vick. The loss of money and the loss of celebrity. I still doubt his sincerity when I see him apologizing for how he treated those dogs.

It will be interesting to see what he does with his life from this point forward.

[flvegan]

14. I don't believe he ever apologized for the dogs.

He apologized for doing wrong, and for being a poor role model, but he never apologized for how he treated those dogs. Not that I recall.

[natrat]

56. drunk crackhead dies in the gutter, hopefully

[MadHound]

31. Once again the rich and famous will get off with a slap on the wrist

Hopefully the NFL and Goodell have enough sense not to let this asshole back on the field. I doubt that Vick will ever get any endorsement work again, and that he will be relegated to playing arena ball, at best.

I have no sympathy for assholes who fight dogs, having done too much rescue work over the years and decades.

[mbperrin]

32. Amazing what money and influence can do, isn't it?

As usual, justice IS for sale in the good ole USA.

Now when will he return to slinging footballs for millions?

And please don't give me nonsense about his career being over, the stigma, blah, blah, blah.

He's a sociopath who enjoys the pain of others.

But he's got money, so he can get away with it.

[Critters2]

36. Heard some commentator say this morning that he pled in hopes of being able to return

to the NFL. Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised if he does. It's all about money.

[Pavulon]

46. People hate him, I hate him and attend games

would make it a point not to purchase any ticket for a game he was in. He is scum and people will not pay to see him play.

[hlthe2b]

47. Good on you... I can only hope that there are 100s of thousands

of NFL fans, just like you.

[emilyg]

50. I was pleased that Falcons do not plan on taking him back.

[DebbieCDC]

54. Some NFL team will take the scumbag back with a huge contract

I hope to hell that the first time he steps out on another football field and drops back he gets buried under about 1,000 pounds of defensive linemen. I won't say any more than that, but what I'm thinking that bastard should get won't be repeated here.

[classysassy]

59. I love my dogs

Vick did a stupid thing,animals have rights,and humans also have rights,I grieve for the dogs but I also grieve for the millions that have been murdered by that animal in the oval office.

[Kurska]

60. Woe be to whatever team trys to take him back, provided he gets out anytime soon n/t

[opihimoimoi]

61. The NFL is trying to maintain a good image....having Vick on board will send bad vibes throughout

the Nations football fans and animal rights peeps...

Its common sense..why make twoubles? let the dog stay in his corner...don't feed him....he might go away