Vick Sentenced to 23 Months

Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for running a "cruel and inhumane" dogfighting ring and lying about it. The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have been sentenced up to five years by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson.^[1]

One of Vick's federal criminal defense attorneys, Lawrence Woodward, asked for leniency. He said Vick "grew up on some of probably the meanest and roughest streets in this commonwealth," but had never been in trouble with the law and had done much for charities. Vick was denied any credit for taking responsibility for his crime, and Judge Hudson agreed with a federal probation officer's finding that Vick had lied about his hands-on killing of dogs and about his drug use; Vick tested positive for marijuana Sept. 13, violating conditions of his release while he awaited sentencing.^[2]

Vick pleaded guilty in August, admitting he bankrolled the dogfighting operation and helped kill six to eight dogs.^[3] He has been held at a jail in Warsaw, Va., since he voluntarily began serving his sentence.^[4] In his plea agreement, he admitted bankrolling the dogfighting ring on his 15-acre property in rural Virginia and helping kill pit bulls that did not perform well in test fights.^[5] He also admitted providing money for bets on the fights but said he never shared in any winnings.^[6]

The case began in April when a drug investigation of Vick's cousin led authorities to the Vick’s Surry County property, where they found dozens of pit bulls -- some of them injured -- and equipment associated with dogfighting.^[7] Vick initially denied any knowledge about dogfighting on the property, but recanted and changed his story after the three co-defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the government.^[8]

Federal sentencing guidelines called for a term of 18 months to two years.^[9] Federal prosecutor Michael Gill asked for a sentence at the high end, meaning Vick would get more time than either of the two co-defendants sentenced last month.^[10] Although there is no parole in the federal system, rules governing time off for good behavior could reduce Vick's prison stay by about three months, resulting in a summer 2009 release.^[11]

Federal criminal defense attorney Douglas McNabb has previously blogged about the Michael Vick, here.

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^[1] AP Staff, NFL star Michael Vick sentenced to 23 months in prison, Associated Press Newswire, December 13, 2007, available at LEXIS, News Library, Wire News Services File.
^[2] Id.
^[3] Id.
^[4] Id.
^[5] Id.
^[6] Id.
^[7] Id.
^[8] Id.
^[9] Id.
^[10] Id.
^[11] Id.