Michael Vick Enters Guilty Plea on State Charges

According to the AJC, Michael Vick, who is currently serving a 23 month federal prison sentence on felony charges related to dogfighting, pleaded guilty to related charges in Virginia state court on Tuesday. Vick is currently serving his federal sentence at Leavenworth prison and is scheduled for release on July 20, 2009.

Vick pleaded guilty to a state dogfighting charge Tuesday in a Virginia courtroom. Under a plea agreement, the Falcons quarterback received a three-year suspended prison term and a $2,500 fine on a charge of attending, sponsoring and participating in dog fights. A charge of cruelty to animals with prejudice was dismissed. He also received four years’ probation. The fine will be suspended if Vick pays court costs and keeps the terms of the probation. The charges against Vick carried a maximum sentence of 10 years.

After accepting the plea, Surry County Circuit Court Judge Samuel E. Campbell allowed Vick to speak. A stoic Vick, dressed in a gray suit, paused and then said: “I would like to apologize to the court, my family and to the kids that I let down as a role model. I’m very remorseful for my actions.”