Saturday, July 28, 2007

Plea agreement hearing set for Vick co-defendant


In my opinion, far too many professional athletes get away with far too much bad behavior. It looks like it may all be catching up with Michael Vick, the former Virginia Tech star (no, I am not some jaded UVA alumni reveling in Vick's troubles) and current Atlanta Falcons star. Here's highlights of an article in today's Virginian Pilot


One of Michael Vick's co-defendants doesn't want to wait for trial. A plea agreement hearing has been scheduled for Tony Taylor at 9 a.m. Monday in the federal dogfighting conspiracy case.

Taylor's hearing was added to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson's docket Friday, a day after he and the other three defendants pleaded not guilty before the same judge. Vick and the others still are scheduled for trial Nov. 26.

Prosecutors claim Taylor, 34, found the Surry County property purchased by Vick and used it as the site of "Bad Newz Kennels," a dogfighting enterprise. The Hampton man also allegedly helped purchase pit bulls and killed at least two dogs that fared poorly in test fights. Taylor's lawyer, Stephen Ashton Hudgins of Newport News, did not immediately return a phone message, and federal prosecutors have declined to talk about the case. Also Friday, Nike Inc. and Reebok International Ltd. suspended sales of Vick signature apparel including jerseys and shoes.
If Taylor cops a plea, we can be pretty sure that he will be a witness for the prosecution. For some time now, Vick has thought he could do whatever he wanted - a male Lindsay Lohan, if you will - and it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

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