Underground Journal of Initiation

Take Michael Vick. Carlin sighed and called the star quarterback's dog-fighting travails a "side attraction in the big circus of America. That's not the kind of thing I generally talk about. But I did write about how I feel about humans vs. animals. I agree with the writer Patricia Highsmith. She said a friend told her if she saw a baby human and a baby kitten crying in the street, she'd feed the baby kitten. I agree with that. That's what I would do: Put animals ahead of human beings." source

Federal Judge Henry E. Hudson accepted Michael Vick's plea of guilty and swiftly informed him, "You are taking your chances here..." Vick was also informed by the Judge of the rights forfeited by pleading guilty to a felony: the right to appeal, the right to vote, the right to own a firearm, the right to hold public office and the right to be on a jury. Vick will be sentenced on Dec. 10. *Update(8/28)* Falcons Win Opener in 'Statement Game' Vick Vows Redemption!

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in his federal dogfighting case and will enter his guilty plea during a court hearing next Monday, his attorney said today. "After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him," Billy Martin, Vick's attorney, said in a statement issued this afternoon. Link Update (8/23): Falcons Fans Unloading Season Tickets!

The AJC is reporting that Michael Vick is in negotiations with the federal prosecutors for a deal.

R. Robin McDonald writes in the Fulton County Daily Report that Vick's lawyer is a competent defense attorney who is undaunted by the limelight. Related Post: Michael Vick vs. The United States of America

Read the actual indictment : One count of sponsoring a dog in an animal fighting venture and conspiracy to transport the animal. Updates: (7/18): Falcons issue statement concerning the Vick indictment (7/19): AJC: The NFL to let Vick play Meet the Judge who will preside at Michael Vick's trial Meet the Federal Prosecutor (7/20): Meet Vick's Defense attorney, Lawrence H. Woodward Jr. (7/24): Vick ordered by NFL to not attend Falcons Training camp Arthur Blank, Rich Mckay and Bobby Petrino hold press conference about the Michael Vick Federal investigation; to have a 'wait and see' attitude about his future with the Falcons. (7/25): Michael Vick arraigned in Richmond, VA federal courthouse. Bail was given and charges were read and acknowledged by the defendents. Trial date is November 26, 2007. Vick hires Attorney Billy Martin (7/30): Tony Taylor , 34, pleads guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges. He will be sentenced Dec. 14. Vick speaks out on Atlanta rad...

SURRY -- The prosecutor handling the investigation into alleged dogfighting at the Surry County home of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick says he has not heard from anyone who witnessed such activity there. "Nobody's come forward yet to say, 'Oh yeah, I was there,'" Surry Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter told The Times-Dispatch yesterday in an interview at his office. Over the weekend, an unidentified informant interviewed on ESPN mentioned being with Vick when the former Virginia Tech standout entered a dog in a fight in 2000, before Vick is known to have owned property in Surry. The man, who was disguised on television, said he has not attended a dogfight at Vick's residence but that Vick has fought dogs, funded dogfighting and gambled on the illegal activity as recently as last year. continued...

CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- The prosecutor investigating whether property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was part of a dog fighting operation said Wednesday he still doesn't have solid evidence linking Vick to dog fighting. Poindexter said there are no eyewitnesses who say they saw dog fighting at the home where 66 dogs were seized along with equipment that could be associated with dog fighting. The discoveries were made during a drug raid at the home on April 25.