SURRY, VIRGINIA —Former NFL star Michael Vick plans to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges in Virginia, according to paperwork filed Tuesday in Surry County Circuit Court.
A circuit court administrator said Vick will plead guilty via a video-conference call from federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he currently is serving a two-year sentence for dogfighting.
According to the Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Vick will plead guilty to the state charges in an attempt to receive an early release from his federal sentence and enter a halfway house.
Vick, 28, pleaded guilty in August 2007 to a federal dogfighting charge, admitting that he bankrolled the operation known as “Bad Newz Kennels†which was based on his property in rural Virginia.
Court papers revealed disturbing details of the operation, including the execution of underperforming dogs by electrocution, drowning, hanging and other means.
Vick was sentenced on December 10, 2007 to spend 23 months in jail. With good behavior, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have his sentence reduced to 18 months, which would result in a release from prison in the summer of 2009.
*****from yahoonews.com*****