Vick pleads not guilty

Media General News Service
Published: July 26, 2007

• RELATED Vick's now on defense

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleaded not guilty to a federal indictment about 3:40 today and left court pending a two-week jury trial with his three co-defendants starting Nov. 26.

Vick, along with Purnell A. Peace of Virginia Beach, Quanis L. Phillips of Atlanta and Tony Taylor of Hampton, was indicted one count of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce for unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal-fighting venture. All four men pleaded not guilty today, waved their right to a speedy trial and asked to be tried by a jury together.
 
Prosecutors did not seek bond for any of the four men during the 15-minute court proceeding this afternoon in Richmond federal court.

Conviction could result in six years in prison for each man.

If convicted on the interstate-commerce portion of the charge, each defendant faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted on the dogfighting portion, each faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Vick is required to surrender any animal breeding or kennel licenses. Peace and Phillips were required to submit to electronic monitoring and substance-abuse testing. Taylor had to submit to substance-abuse testing.

All four men are required to remain under supervision by law enforcement and live at their primary residences.