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| Michael Vick
(file photo) |
By Dave Forster
The Virginian-Pilot
Michael Vick turned himself in Monday to begin serving his dogfighting sentence, three weeks before he knows how long he will be locked up. Vick’s surprising and unusual decision will likely start the clock on whatever prison term he receives at his Dec. 10 sentencing. It also allows him to avoid a public spectacle when he appears in the federal courthouse in Richmond.
Previous court appearances by the Newport News native and former Atlanta Falcons quarterback have produced wide media coverage and crowds of supporters and protesters.
Because he is in custody, Vick will be taken to court by the U.S. Marshals Service, which will escort him through a private entrance for inmates.
Vick’s attorney, Billy Martin , released a statement Monday saying that “from the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance.”
Martin said Vick “wants to again apologize to everyone who has been hurt in this matter, and he thanks all the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time.”
Vick was suspended indefinitely by the NFL before the season. His surrender Monday capped an eventful period of supervised release that began Aug. 27 , when he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to run a dogfighting and gambling venture from 2001 to spring 2007 in Surry County.
On Sept. 13 , Vick submitted a urine sample that tested positive for marijuana, an offense that earned him a curfew and an electronic monitoring device. Five days later, he took an eight-hour animal empathy course with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Vick’s girlfriend gave birth to a daughter a few weeks ago, and last week he sold the Surry County property used for his dogfighting venture.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson accepted Vick’s request to surrender. He signed an order for the U.S. Marshals Service to take custody of him “based solely on his desire to begin his period of incarceration prior to his sentencing hearing,” the court order said.
One local lawyer who’s been practicing for 35 years said he’s never heard of a defendant turning himself in early to begin a prison term that hadn’t yet been handed down.
“I’ve never heard of that,” said Hunter Sims, a Norfolk defense attorney and former federal prosecutor. “My clients all want to avoid that day as long as possible.”
John Hackman , chief deputy for the U.S. Marshals region, said he couldn’t recall the last time a defendant surrendered before sentencing, but he said it isn’t unheard of. “Sometimes people do that for convenience,” Hackman said.
Vick surrendered in the federal courthouse in Richmond and was taken to the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, about 50 miles northeast of the capital, said the jail’s superintendent, Jeffery Frazier .
Frazier said h e could not discuss the arrangements of Vick’s jail stay .
Hackman said he did not know the details of Vick’s incarceration in relation to other inmates, but he said some arrangements have been made.
“We do have certain special situations there,” he said.
Vick’s federal charge carries a maximum prison sentence of five years, but the plea agreement he signed includes recommended sentencing guidelines that call for between one year and 18 months.
Two of Vick’s co-defendants are scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 30. A third is scheduled for Dec. 14 .
The men still face state charges related to dogfighting and animal cruelty in Surry County. The next court hearing in that case is next Tuesday.
Defense attorneys have said they will try to have those charges dismissed because the men have already been prosecuted in federal court.
Vick has a Nov. 29 hearing in Richmond Circuit Court in a civil matter involving a former agent who sued the NFL star over a contract.
Sims, the former federal prosecutor, said Vick likely would serve time in a minimum- security facility. Vick could be released early to a halfway house, Sims said.
How Monday’s decision affects Vick’s football future remains unclear. The Atlanta Falcons still hold rights to his services and are expected to retain them while the club attempts to recoup some of his signing bonus. An arbitrator ruled in October that the team is entitled to $19.9 million, but the NFL Players Association has appealed.
Vick could face further sanctions from the NFL, even after he is released from prison. League C ommissioner Roger Goodell appears to be waiting to see what sentence the court imposes next month. Goodell suspended the quarterback indefinitely without pay after Vick made his plea agreement. The commissioner’s suspensions have typically come with terms that have to be met in order for a player to be reinstated.
Assuming Vick met those conditions and was released by the Falcons, he would be free to sign with another team at any time . That would depend on a team being willing to endure the possible backlash that could come from signing Vick.
“I would say somebody will certainly give him a tryout, if he has no issues between now and when he is reinstated,” said Charlie Casserly, former general manager of the Houston Texans. “Somebody will give him a tryout and offer him a contract.”
How Vick would fare would depend on how long he’s away , Casserly said.
“Common sense says he won’t be the same player,” Casserly said. “ A lot of his success was in his ability to run the ball.”
Staff writers Tim McGlone and Ed Miller contributed to this report .
Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563,
dave.forster@pilotonline.com
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Alot of people with hatred
Im not going to call no names but there si a "slim chance" that alot of us have done some stupid things. i know i have that would have ended me up in jail. But by the way that people are talking, they are acting like the man killed a human being. Yes, a dog is adomestic animal but what about people killing deers, bears, rabbits. For all the poeple who ran over a dog or a cat while driving should turn themselves in. Leave the man alone and let justice serve it's course. People these days are just stuck on reality TV and news. I say killing a dog is the same thing as killing a cat, deer, mouse, roach (anything that God gave breathe too). U have 6 months to mine your business and 6 months to leave everyone elses alone!!!!
Micheal Vick
I agree with Chris from Va Bch., Vick is being persecuted unfairly. Rapist, Child abusers and Pedophiles receive less publicity than Michael Vick has behind Dogs that were bred to fight to kill. OK, enough already! So what if he chooses to turn himself in and deprive all you media hungry people of yet another opporturnity to heckle him and bring more grief and attention to his family situation. Move on people and allow him to serve whatever sentence he might receive in peace.
I don't think:
I don't think being incarcerated,for a long period of time, will do any good, if Micheal Vick don't get the therapy he needs. It will just be a waste of tax payers dollars.I think jail time of 1 year with therapy,would be sufficient. With court ordered therapy for 1 year upon release.I will say a prayer for Micheal Vick's mother. Because I know he has really hurt her. Probably the reason he didn't want to be home for Thanksgiving.
If it was U
Would U want the judge to throw you under the jail.....If u were a football player would u know every single move being made in a house you probably barely lived in. People only want him to get the worst because he is rich...I think the blond headed brats who dirve drunk should get harsh punishments but guess what it didnt happen so lay off it already.
What a crock
Vick did not accept his responsibility from the beginning like his lawyer said. That's just another in the string of lies that has come out from this case. Vick only accepted responsibility onces his cronies flipped faster than a burger at McDonalds and it became clear that he was screwed. He lied to Arthur Blank, Roger Goodell, his family, the fans, and everyone when this first started. I have no respect for Vick whatsoever...and I hope that his time in jail helps him turn his life around. He's got some serious problems that only time and a lot of help will fix. Good luck.
Vick
In my opinion, Vick surrendered ealy only to avoid publicity. He could have at least shared Thanksgiving with his family before his latest stunt. I have no sympathy for him
Slim chance
but i hope his roomies are football hatin', animal lovin' criminals just salivatin' at the opportunity to cause him the same misery he caused helpless creatures simply to make a buck he didnt even need!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ach Gee almost got it it right......
Yes, people who do wrong typically lie about it, goes along with their nature. But that's no excuse for lying and society should not be expected to accept it. Hopefully examples such as Vick, Bonds, Stewart, etc will teach a few people out there that lying will be punished right along with, or sometimes in lieu of, the crime itself. I question anybody who feels that lying should be expected, then accepted, and finally excused as "the way things are".
A dog lover who thinks Michael Vick is being Persecuted
I am a dog lover and has owned 4 pit bulls in the past. I want to know how much can one story last. Michael Vick is being persecuted in the media, by the Feds and the State. Let he who without sin cast their first stone meaning the Feds, the state and all else. we have murderers that has gotten way less attention then willing dog owners who chose to fight their dogs. Let the state and Feds go after these murderers and drug dealers this vigorously as they have done Michael Vick. He made an atrocious mistake, but he admitted it and is accepting of his impending punishment. Michael Vick is bearing this burden and all the judgemental people can do is judge, again " Let he who without sin cast their first stone "
Focus!
Michael Vick broke the laws in Virginia about dog fighting. He lied when asked about it which usually brings you more trouble than if you would have fessed up when first asked. So this has nothing to do with 9/11, rapists, abortion or any other crime or criminal. He is (was) a local hero from this state and is known all over for his talent as a football player. People like him are held to higher standards and that is why everyone is all over this on going story because of what he did and who he is...broke the law and is (was) a highly paid athelete. You know the saying, the bigger you are, the harder you fall.
Long and Winding Road
The opinion shared by others is "right-on", that is if Michael had confessed from the beginning, without lying to NFL Commissioner Goodell and others, he might get 6 months in jail or even a suspended sentence and back in the NFL in 2008 or 2009. But now the road is long and winding road; a difficult one which no one can predict.
A Million bucks to take care of some dogs?
I guess the price of euthanasia has really gone up. There's no way that the feds spent 20K per dog when most of them were euthanized--and if they did, they need to find a cheaper vet! It was $65 to have my beloved pet put to sleep when the time came, so I'd ask for some accounting on this amount--Kibbles and Bits must have really gone up in price.
Crazy
I for one think people need to step back and criticize / judge thier own lives before they continue to ostracize Vick. Yes, what he did was wrong, but he shouldn't be punished anymore harshly than the next guy. He ruined his own financial well-being and relatively "easy" life (playing a sport for millions), but for people to want such harsh punishments imposed suggests deeper issues. Think of your own lives and choices you make or made and think of how the public would react to that.
Now he is protected
Mike is trying to do right, he knows he must grow up and accept his punishment. He is in a safe and secure enviroment, warm, fed, showers, medical care, and away from animals. Did you know most abusers start out with dogs and cats? One has to ponder why he would give himself up freely? The problem is still present and will not be buried in a yard somewhere. I'm sure other things regarding this ex-sports legend is currently being dug up. I feel no mercy for him. He is being treated alot better then his dogs were.
Let's Move On
Let's finally move on beyond Michael Vick. He's admitted his guilt, been found guilty in a court of law, and now he's in jail. I hope that everyone in Hampton Roads can sleep better knowing this deviant is off the streets and behinds bars where he obviously belong, right? Now that's over let's focus on getting those rapists, drunk drivers, murderers off the streets now. I know it'll be hard to do but I think we can do it. He's been such a big part of lives for soooo long.
Not being truthful is part of wrong doing.
I don't understand the point people make when they say he lied. Hypathatically speaking, if one is a supervisor that has improprieties with the secretary, would one tell the boss he did it? No, that person would not be truthfull until there is overwhelming evidence against the supervisor.
How could anyone expect Vick to tell Goddell and Blank, yes, I did it at the beginning? If all people were that honest, what's the purpose of defense attorneys. People would just walk into court and tell the Judge, my bad, I did it.
Let us not act like we are beyond wrong doing, at any level. Vick is a person, just as any. He made dumb mistakes and rightfully he should pay for them. The hate, just doesn't make since. Did he lead the 911 terror? No.
Nothing but more PR...
No one changes over night and this is proof as his attourny just keeps spinning to make Mr Vick look like he cares and well I can't by it. I think he desirves a Job when he gets done with his sentence but Not playing Football, then we can all see just how Beamer makes his players get their schooling along with playing good ? I also agree everyone has sinned and should be forgiven so he is forgiven by me and I wish him the best but it is hard to get respect with all the spinning his attournies do. I truly hope he will change and not just put up a front like so many do when they get caught.
From the beginning?
Did i read this article correctly? Billy Martin says that Vick "from the beginning" accepted responsibility for his actions....I seem to remember him denying everything. He lied to Roger Goodell and the NFL by saying that he had no involvement with dog fighting and he loved animals. How is that accepting responsibility? The only reason he is so sorry is because he got caught. Now he wan't mercy. Going to jail early is a publicity stunt designed to make people feel sorry for him.
Funny
Funny how people use to love this man when he was at Virginia Tech running that football on a Saturday afternoon and on Sunday with the Falcons. Yes what he did was horrfic. He will pay for his crime. Once again the hypocrisy has no bounds in Virginia or the USA for that matter. Most people who post these comments want the man to pay double. I wonder why? Because he is famous. I won't play the "race card" like everyone expects. But it makes you wonder. If he was a regular Joe, he may get a hefty fine, because there are people that still do dogfighting and people kill animals everday.....just food for thought.
Courting Public Opinion......
It's clear that this is only a PR move...and just before Thanksgiving? I can hear his lawyers and PR people now - "Wow, everyone will really feel sorry for you, spending turkey day in jail!". Yeah, right! He should spend the next five turkey days at Marion!
Mike Vick
I was curious to see if people's hatred for this man because of his dastardly deeds had diminished over the months. It seems perhaps not. While what he did is deplorable, I have to side with Sebrina B. All of us have done things we regret; and, while hopefully it didn't result in the death of humans or animals, it would be embarrassing. The punishment is up to the judge, so perhaps we could/should back off this man a bit and even say a little prayer for him and his family... and ourselves out of gratitude that our lives, careers, reputations and financial well being weren't compromised that way Mike Vick's was. Yes, he did it himself; but, again, we have all done things we regret, right?
He is not the first
I feel like Vick should be punished for his wrong doing but on the other hand, how many of us are doing wrong everyday? If he was just your average Joe then people wouldn't be as concerned about the situation but since he is famous and rich all of sudden he is a terrible person. It makes mad sometimes how fickle people can be. As long as he's running a football people are happy and he is the bomb but as soon as he screws up oh I don't like him anymore. It's like people forget that he is human just like you and I and nobody is perfect. You mess up then you must fess up and take your punishment and I feel like that's what he is doing.
Future Raider?
Al Davis doesnt care what anyone thinks about him. I can see it happening and believe that Vick should be allowed to play some time in the future. He will probably be more determined and his body will be in great shape as he will have rested atleast 2 full seasons. What he did was horrid but this man should not be punished for the rest of his life. he will undoubtably learn hard lessons from this and we can only hope it makes him a better man in the eyes of God.
I wonder....
if he'll get real turkey or the gravied loaf for Thanksgiving...
Praying for him
I am praying for Michael Vick and his family. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Sorry, I don't buy the PR move.....
.....his priority is his family, especially his newborn, and he chooses to go to jail instead of spending Thanksgiving with his family????? What a total loser.
Wow.
"...from the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance"...what a bunch of mularkey. This is nothing short of another publicity stunt to gain the favor of his feeble followers; I hope the sentencing judge can see through this ploy and keep him in a "real" jail where he belongs for what he's done. Also Michael, congrats on your out-of-wedlock child...I know she'll be proud of you and your "accomplishments".
yea
Yes, there are special considerations that are needed to be considered. Let's make sure he has a private room with a nice tv with cable and hbo, a nice cushy mattress, that he has his own work out room and special diet. This "guy" deserves nothing special, throw him in a cell in a REAL jail and away with the key. How cares about him, perhaps, other than his family. This is just another pr stunt.