The Virginia Pilot is reporting that Michael Vick has been offered a plea deal on federal dogfighting charges. If he doesn’t take the deal, the Feds are expected to charge him under the RICO statute, where he would face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
According to the Pilot, Vick’s decision is based on how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will punish him. He could be banned for life.
I have a bit of advice for Vick: take the deal. The evidence against you is staggering and with your co-defendents planning to testify against you, you’d be crazy to gamble on a possible 20 year prison sentence. If you get a chance to play football again, fine. But if not, at least you’ll have your freedom.
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At least Vick will save those millions that he had planned to spend on defense costs for himself and his co-defendants. But really how can he really expect the public to support his return after torturing and killing dogs?
Posted by Sweatin'LikeNixon | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 2:07 pmIf Vick is guilty, I hope he takes the deal.
Frankly, I don’t want to see the trial, and the circus that will surely be all around it, at the top of the local news for weeks. As a Richmonder and a football fan, I want this disgusting story to go away a soon as possible.
Posted by F.T. Rea | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 3:24 pm“If Vick is guilty….” Come on. An NFL quarterback with a kennel license and a bunch of dead, maimed dogs in his back yard?
Posted by Sweatin'LikeNixon | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 4:03 pmFact – A prosecutors DO NOT offer deals unless they are either:
1) unsure of their case, or
2) bad prosecutors
“Staggering” amounts of evidence notwithstanding, this smells like Ookie may actually have some defense.
Wait and see if he doesn’t actually admit guilt and gets convicted of a much lesser crime.
Posted by Hon. Jewington Analplay | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 4:27 pmI am sure that the “deal” being offered to Vick does NOT include no jail time. The first person to plead guilty in this case will almost certainly be sentenced to jail, but probably less than he would have had he fought it at trial. He has to tell everything he knows about the case, though…
Same with Vick. The feds might be looking for others in the dog fighting world. Don’t be fooled, Vick is done and will be headed to jail shortly:)
Posted by Bill | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 4:45 pmI have to disagree with Hon. Analplay – there is a third reason for offering a deal: to get to others up the chain. Happens all the time. Vick is going to have to sing on the other players. And I expect he will get jail time.
Posted by vjp | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 6:18 pmYou’re right, I didn’t consider that. I guess that’s because there are already others who are willing to implicate others.
It will be interesting to sort out. I must say, however, that I am troubled by how quickly the presumption of innocence has gone out the window here. Didn’t we just have some lacrosse-playing rapists dead to rights in North Carolina?
Posted by Hon. Jewington Analplay | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 8:28 pmFourth reason- to avoid the expense of prosecuting a high profile defendant who will spend big bucks putting on a show trial for people like “Analplay”.
Posted by Sweatin'Like Nixon | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 8:28 pmGlad you see truth so clearly, Nixon. Able to tell guilty people just by looking at them?
Prosecutors say all sorts of things about defendants. I certainly hope you never need the services of a show trial.
Posted by Hon. Jewington Analplay | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 8:31 pmI also disagree with Hon. JA.
Federal prosecutors have a very high conviction rate. They usually make offers, always with the requirement of cooperation for the best deal.
I agree Vick is done. If the suggestion that the Feds are ready to ramp up the charges to include a RICO, they are applying maximum pressure.
He will have no choice but to plead. This isn’t LA and he isn’t OJ.
Posted by Jerry Gray | Tuesday, August 14, 2007, 9:15 pmI always thought that Vick would take a plea, rather than have all those gory details come out in court. I just didn’t think it would happen so quickly. Looks like the boy from Bad Newz is going to jail.
Posted by Janie Oldham | Friday, August 17, 2007, 4:33 am