Virginia indicts Vick

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Virginia indicts Vick

The Associated Press
Published on: 09/24/07
Michael Vick and three co-defendants have been indicted on state charges related to dogfighting.

Vick and three co-defendents have already entered plea agreements in federal court on felony charges related to dogfighting and are awaiting sentencing.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was indicted for beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. The grand jury did not indict him on eight counts of animal cruelty. In a written plea for the federal dogfighting case, Vick admitted to helping kill six to eight dogs at the Surry County property.

The state's decision was expected. Monday night, Virginia Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter said that he would "present a host of bills of indictment" to a Surry County grand jury regarding dogfighting at Vick's property.

"Most of the matters that I'm presenting have already been admitted in sworn statements authored by the defendants in the federal proceedings," Poindexter told the Associated Press.

Poindexter also told the AP that he couldn't detail the exact indictments he will pursue, but said the local investigation and the federal investigation largely focused on different crimes.

"The killing of dogs is one of those statutory prohibitions," Poindexter said. "Dogfighting is a crime, the mistreatment of animals is a crime, so you could take your pick, or take them all."

Poindexter then ended the interview by saying: "I don't have anything else to say about it. I'm through with it. Hopefully it's coming to an end."

Poindexter did not return phone calls from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution both Monday afternoon and night. However, Poindexter told the AJC last week that while he could seek indictments at Tuesday's grand jury, he would likely wait until the final outcome of the federal case against Vick and his co-defendents.

Vick, his co-defendants and lawyers will not attend the closed proceeding, according to the AP.

Vick faces up to five years in federal prison and has been indefinitely suspended by the NFL after entering a plea agreement in federal court in Richmond last month. In his written plea, Vick admitted to bankrolling the dogfighting operation Bad Newz Kennels, helping kill six to eight pit bulls and supplying money for gambling on the fights. He said he did not personally place any bets or share in any winnings, but gave his three co-defendants all those proceeds.

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