Vick's co-defendants to enter new plea agreements

[03EBZ06]

Changing their tune?

Vick's co-defendants to enter new plea agreements

Posted: Monday August 13, 2007 8:20PM; Updated: Monday August 13, 2007 8:20PM

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The two remaining co-defendants in Michael Vick's federal dogfighting case on Monday scheduled hearings to enter plea agreements.

Purnell Peace is set to appear in federal court in Richmond on Thursday and Quanis Phillips on Friday.

Last month, another original co-defendant, Tony Taylor, pleaded guilty to his role in a dogfighting conspiracy he says was financed almost entirely by the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

Taylor agreed to fully cooperate with the government in its prosecution of Vick, Peace and Phillips, who are accused of running an interstate dogfighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" on Vick's property in rural Surry County.

Attorneys for Peace and Phillips did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.

Collins R. Spencer III, a spokesman for Vick's defense team, said the lawyers were surprised by the plea deals.

"They didn't see it coming," Spencer said.

But he said it wouldn't affect the way he proceeds with the case.

Vick has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Vick, 27, attended several dogfights in Virginia and other states with his partners, according to the statement. Prosecutors claim the fights offered purses as high as $26,000.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20.../13/vick.dogfighting.defendants.ap/index.html

 

[03EBZ06]

"Two of Vick's attorneys, Larry Woodward and Billy Martin, met with federal prosecutor Michael Gill and the investigators on Monday afternoon, ESPN reported Monday. The attorneys planned to speak with the quarterback in the evening to see what direction he wants to go in, ESPN reported.

A source close to the investigation told ESPN that Vick has until Friday to make up his mind whether to accept a plea agreement. Otherwise a superseding indictment will be filed and Vick will face at least two more federal dogfighting charges."

 

[Hostile]

I applaud them for not making this a trial that the taxpayers have to foot the bill for. I wish they had better sense to begin with.

 

[peplaw06]

ESPN just reported at halftime of MNF that Vick and his defense team are burning the midnight oil tonight. Lots going on in Vick land, lots of decisions to be made.

 

[sago1]

Well, surprise surprise surprise. So Vick's 2 other co-defendants now also going to testify against him. Not surprising considering that the Feds supposedly have video of Vick killing some dogs and also a video of him passing money to another dog owner whose dog beat Vick's dog in a dogfighting show.

Now Vick has to decide whether he pleads guilty and hopes to get a reduced sentence but that also always means he must eloquote everything in detail as to what he did, etc. but it could also mean these videos wouldn't be shown to the public. On the other hand, if he (and his attornies) think a jury wouldn't convict a celebrity football player like himself they might have him plead not guilty and try to beat the odds. Of course in that case the entire evidence the Feds have would be shown to the jury and to the country, etc.

 

[Concord]

...It's only a matter of time now you POS...we're going to get you!

 

[Stash]

 

[peplaw06]

Well, surprise surprise surprise. So Vick's 2 other co-defendants now also going to testify against him. Not surprising considering that the Feds supposedly have video of Vick killing some dogs and also a video of him passing money to another dog owner whose dog beat Vick's dog in a dogfighting show.

Now Vick has to decide whether he pleads guilty and hopes to get a reduced sentence but that also always means he must eloquote everything in detail as to what he did, etc. but it could also mean these videos wouldn't be shown to the public. On the other hand, if he (and his attornies) think a jury wouldn't convict a celebrity football player like himself they might have him plead not guilty and try to beat the odds. Of course in that case the entire evidence the Feds have would be shown to the jury and to the country, etc.

 

[bbgun]

And then there was one.

 

[Stash]

So Pep, as someone with more insight than the average person, what do you think Vick will do next?

If he does plea (my guess), will he still serve at least some part of a jail sentence?

 

[iceberg]

where have all the vick defenders gone?

 

[HighTechDave]

Vick's Peeps are not "Keeping it Real". I thought the Rule was "no snitching".

But what do I know, I'm just a "Crakka" white boy

 

[peplaw06]

So Pep, as someone with more insight than the average person, what do you think Vick will do next?

If he does plea (my guess), will he still serve at least some part of a jail sentence?

Honestly, it's really hard to say. On one hand, considering 90-95% of all defendants plea out, it would seem that would make sense. On the other, Vick and his team has stated all along that they were going to fight the charges.

Some of it depends on what the details of these plea bargains are. This article says that the first guy to take a deal, did so in exchange for his testimony against Vick. That wasn't mentioned on the two new guys, though I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

So if all three alleged co-conspirators are planning on testifying against Vick, he has to think long and hard about taking a deal, no matter how much money he has spent on his attorneys, or how many times he has said he will fight it.

For now, I'll assume that all three guys will testify against him. If that's indeed the case, I'd suggest Vick take a deal. Best I can tell from quickly researching the issue, the maximum range of punishment he faces is five years. He's looking at a max of 5 on the Travel Act portion of the conspiracy charge, and one year on the dog fighting conspiracy charge. The presumption is that those would run concurrently even if the maximum is levied against him.

If he takes a deal, I could see him dropping that substantially, considering he doesn't have much of a criminal history.... probably somewhere around 2-3 years. Probation would still be an option, from what I've read. I don't know a whole lot about federal sentencing guidelines, but I could see a guy like Vick without a criminal history possibly getting probation if he were to take a deal. It all depends on how zealous the prosecutors are.

But if you can get a deal for probation, and you can live up to your end of the terms, you take it. If he goes to trial and loses, he's looking at around 4 years (he has to serve about 85% of the prison sentence).

 

[EastDallasCowboy]

My guess it that he meant ALLOCUTE and not eloquote which he said.

Cut they guy a break

 

[sago1]

Since it very evident he's the main target and with so many lined up to testify against him, Feds are in the driver's seat. Even if he agrees to plead guilty, really doubt if Feds would agree he not serve any prison time cause that allows a big celebrity player to get off essentially without any punishment -- a major blow to doglovers and most American sensibilities. It would also send a message to the country that dogfighting isn't very serious crime, etc. No his plea bargain would include at least 1 year in jail & as much a fine as law allows--probably at least $300,000 which nothing to him.

Of course then he must deal with the NFL Commissioner & a plea agreement is an admission of guilt whether he admits anything or not. Now if it true Commissioner intends rule out in some way Vick playing this year & if he sentenced to a year in prison (which eliminates his play in 08) would Commissioner then suspend him even further or ban him?

 

[Hoofbite]

I don't think Vick has the luxury of a plea. You know the NFL is just dying to fire out a banning. Vick admits to anything and you know they pull th trigger.

 

[Stash]

Honestly, it's really hard to say. On one hand, considering 90-95% of all defendants plea out, it would seem that would make sense. On the other, Vick and his team has stated all along that they were going to fight the charges.

Some of it depends on what the details of these plea bargains are. This article says that the first guy to take a deal, did so in exchange for his testimony against Vick. That wasn't mentioned on the two new guys, though I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

So if all three alleged co-conspirators are planning on testifying against Vick, he has to think long and hard about taking a deal, no matter how much money he has spent on his attorneys, or how many times he has said he will fight it.

For now, I'll assume that all three guys will testify against him. If that's indeed the case, I'd suggest Vick take a deal. Best I can tell from quickly researching the issue, the maximum range of punishment he faces is five years. He's looking at a max of 5 on the Travel Act portion of the conspiracy charge, and one year on the dog fighting conspiracy charge. The presumption is that those would run concurrently even if the maximum is levied against him.

If he takes a deal, I could see him dropping that substantially, considering he doesn't have much of a criminal history.... probably somewhere around 2-3 years. Probation would still be an option, from what I've read. I don't know a whole lot about federal sentencing guidelines, but I could see a guy like Vick without a criminal history possibly getting probation if he were to take a deal. It all depends on how zealous the prosecutors are.

But if you can get a deal for probation, and you can live up to your end of the terms, you take it. If he goes to trial and loses, he's looking at around 4 years (he has to serve about 85% of the prison sentence).

Very thorough, thanks for the info!

 

[Sarge]

Vick has fans in prison too. He would be treated as a hero by half the convicts at the very least.

If it's federal prison, he's in for a rough ride - so to speak. Half the convicts? No way.

 

[Stash]

I would agree that I can't see the feds letting him completely avoid jail time.

In the court of public opinion, that's like letting him 'get away with it'.

 

[burmafrd]

If he pleads guilty his NFL career is over. BUT if he tries to fight it and loses he is looking at some serious FEDERAL PRISON time. The SMART thing to do is plead guilty, act and look contrite, do his year or so, and enjoy the rest of his life with his money which he will still mostly have. But then again if he was SMART he would not be in this mess to begin with.