Controversy around Vick
Some questions and answers surrounding the dogfighting investigation at the Virginia property owned by Falcons quarterback Michael Vick
By Steve Wyche, D. Orlando Ledbetter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/20/07
Q. Where does the case stand?
A. On April 25, 2007, a property owned by Michael Vick in Smithfield, Va., was raided by the Virginia State Police and Drug Task Force.
Evidence of dogfighting, including 66 dogs, treadmills, sticks to pry open dogs' locked jaws, a blood-stained pit and medical supplies were found, according to the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force.
Gerald Poindexter, the Surry County commonwealth's attorney, is set to meet with Sheriff Harold Brown and other law enforcement officials on Monday to review the evidence. Charges have not been filed.
Q: What kind of discipline could Michael Vick face?
A: He could face felony charges with punishment of up to five years in prison and fines, according to Virginia law. Ironically, Georgia is the only state where it is not a crime to attend a dogfight and/or possess a dog with intent to fight.
Should Vick be charged, he could also face discipline, a suspension or fines —- from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Even if Vick is not charged but is found to be involved to some degree, Goodell could enact some type of discipline under the new player-conduct policy.
Q: Why hasn't Vick been cleared or charged yet? Is it a good or bad sign the longer it takes?
A: Nobody has been charged or exonerated. Poindexter will meet with Brown and investigators Monday to review evidence. Once that is completed, they will decide if charges will be pressed and against whom. The amount of time it takes to reach a conclusion should not make a difference; however, it could give investigators and prosecutors time for informants to come forth or new evidence to surface.
Q: What kind of evidence would tie Vick to dogfighting?
A: The Humane Society of the United States has stated that they had received information related to Michael Vick being involved in dogfighting, but they did not know the location.
"The bloody carpet, all of the training equipment, even if you could excuse away every piece of training equipment, you still can't get around that bloody carpet," said John Goodwin, the Humane Society's deputy manager for dogfighting issues. "Then, OK, he said the thing about he didn't know anything about it. All they've got to do is call in as a witness the women who work at the [nearby] store to testify that he's in the town all of the time buying syringes at her store. That right there blows away any claim that he didn't know anything about it."
Participating in dogfights or knowingly allowing them on your property is a felony in Virginia.
Q: Could this become a federal case?
A: The case could attract attention from federal officials if there is deemed to be violation of federal law.
"The interstate transporting of animals for fighting would be one," Goodwin said. "Gambling statutes would be two. Public corruption would be three if it was determined that there had been a payoff connected to this."
Q: Where are the dogs now?
A: Animal control officers from Surry County, Chesapeake, Isle of Wright County and Southhampton County helped with the removal of the dogs. Kathy Strouse, the lead investigator of the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force, does not want to reveal the exact location of the dogs because it is common for them to be stolen or illegally sold from shelters in dogfighting cases.
They are likely scattered throughout shelters in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.
Q: How big would the dogfighting ring be?
A: In January, Stacey Albert Miller was convicted by a jury in Richmond, on two counts of animal cruelty and one count of dogfighting in a case that involved 16 pit bulls. He is awaiting sentencing and could face up to five years in prison.
A total of 66 dogs were removed from Vick's property.
"That's a lot of dogs," Goodwin said. "That's a huge game-dog operation. It's usually significantly less than that."
Q: How tough is it to find a dogfight in Virginia?
A: Say you want to witness a dogfight, how do you get an invite? "Pretty tough, pretty tough," Goodwin said. "It's a closed world. They know it's a felony. They know the spotlight is on. If you [bought] a dog from somebody and they trusted you, they might take you to what they call 'a show.'
"It's pretty tough. You'd get a Pulitzer if you pulled it off because it's extremely hard to do."
Q: Who is Poindexter?
A: Poindexter is an elected official who began serving Surry County as county attorney in 1972. He won the 2003 election, running unopposed, for commonwealth's attorney. His four-year term expires at the end of this year. Surry County, a rural community, has 6,829 residents and very little crime.
In 2004, there was one rape, three robberies and 16 assaults.
No murder in the commitment of a crime has taken place in more than 40 years.
If Vick is charged, his celebrity could make this one of the bigger crime spectacles ever in the Hampton Roads community.
Q: Where does the NFL Players Association stand?
A: The NFLPA, which has worked with the NFL in shaping the new player-conduct policy, is waiting to see if Vick is charged. Players have supported commissioner Roger Goodell's firmer stand against problematic off-field behavior. Vick has not been charged with any crimes during his recent run of issues, and if he is not charged in this instance, the NFLPA could challenge any sanctions handed down by Goodell.
Q: If Vick is suspended, do the Falcons gain any type of salary cap or roster relief?
A: No and yes. If Vick is suspended, Atlanta does not get any breaks in terms of Vick's salary cap charge, which will be nearly $10 million for the 2007 season. However, Vick could be placed on the reserve-suspended list and not count against the 53-man roster, allowing the Falcons to keep a player on the roster in his place.
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