NFL Star QB Vick Surrenders
Falcons Quarterback Begins Serving Dogfighting Prison Sentence
Nov 19, 2007
Disgraced Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick surrendered to authorities Monday in order to begin his anticipated jail sentence early.
Vick – who pleaded guilty to federal charges relating to dogfighting in August – turned himself in several weeks before he was scheduled to be sentenced in federal district court before U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson in Richmond, Va. Hudson signed an order Monday to allow Vick to begin serving his sentence early.
The former face of Atlanta’s National Football League franchise turned himself in to the U.S. Marshal’s Office in Richmond and was transported to the Northern Neck Regional Jail in rural Northeast Virginia. The facility has a contract with the federal Bureau of Prisons to hold those awaiting sentencing. It has the capacity to house as many as 460 inmates.
Vick is expected to receive up to two years in prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring that was based at his Surry County, Va. home. He is due to be sentenced Dec. 10.
According to several news sources including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Vick’s lead attorney, Billy Martin, released a prepared statement following Vick’s surrender.
"From the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions and his self surrender further demonstrates that acceptance," Martin said. "Michael wants to again apologize to everyone [who] has been hurt in this matter and he thanks all of the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time."
The Falcons declined to comment, but it appears certain that Vick has played his last game for the franchsie he was the face of for a half-dozen years. Vick admitted he lied to Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell when he repeatedly denied any involvement in a dogfighting operation. He has been indefinitely suspended by the league.
He admitted to financing an endeavor known as “Bad Newz Kennels,” and to the vicimizing and killing of pitbull dogs.
Vick surrendered in the hopes that Hudson would be more lenient than perhaps otherwise, although the quarterback has been under limited house arrest since he tested positive for marijuana in September.
The Associated Press reported that noted legal scholar and University of Richmond law professor Ronald Bacigal said the potential impact on Hudson is anybody’s guess.
"It's kind of like reading tea leaves knowing what's the exact impact on the judge," Bacigal said. "I don't think there's any benefits except getting [the sentence] started. I would think he's purely thinking about timing as far as when he can get back to his football."
And ESPN.com legal analyst, attorney Lester Munson, said that – at worst – Vick will get a good jump on serving his jail time in order to attempt to get his NFL career back on track.
“It's a lot more than three weeks,” Munson wrote. “Under normal procedures, Vick would be starting his sentence late in January or early in February. After Hudson pronounces a sentence on Dec. 10, Vick would ordinarily be waiting for eight to 10 weeks for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to decide where Vick will do his time. Reporting early means Vick could potentially expedite the process of putting his football career back together.”
