Criminal Justice
Pressure Mounts as Vick’s Co-Defendants Plead
Posted Aug 17, 2007, 08:41 am CST
By Molly McDonough
Two more co-defendants in the Michael Vick dogfighting case have pleaded guilty, putting pressure on the once-celebrated NFL quarterback to do the same.
The men -- Quanis L. Phillips and Purnell A. Peace -- pleaded guilty Friday. Tony Taylor pleaded guilty last month. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that all three would be required to testify against Vick.
The paper reports that Vick, who was indicted last month, was offered a deal that would require at least a year in prison, though the judge could sentence him for up to five years. Vick has pleaded not guilty.
The indictment accused the Atlanta Falcons player and his co-defendants of participating in a dogfighting operation involving gambling and allegations of animal cruelty at Vick's home in rural Surry County, Va.