Vick to Plead Guilty
NFL star's three co-defendants have already entered plea agreements.
Aug. 20, 2007 — -- NFL star quarterback Michael Vick threw a Hail Mary in his illegal dogfighting case Monday, agreeing to plead guilty to avoid any further charges.
"After consulting with his family this weekend Michael Vick asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding the charges pending against him," lead Vick attorney Billy Martin said in a written statement.
"Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to the charges and accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize everyone who has been hurt by this matter," Martin's statement concluded.
Vick, 27, had been in talks with his attorneys last week and over the weekend. The trial was set to begin Nov. 26, after 11 games of the Atlanta Falcons' 16-game regular season would have already been played.
The charges could bring a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each defendant. Sources tell ABC News it might not be possible for Vick to avoid prison time.
The pressure was on for Vick -- one co-defendant entered into a plea agreement last month, and the remaining two men appeared in court Friday to do the same. Prosecutors reportedly offered Vick a plea deal that included at least a one-year prison sentence.
The government was set to possibly add more charges -- such as racketeering -- based on allegations contained in the co-defendants' statements of fact that Vick financed the alleged gambling operation associated with the suspected dogfighting ring.
Vick, the Atlanta Falcons' starting quarterback, and his three co-defendants had all originally entered not guilty pleas July 26.
A week earlier on July 17, the federal government had filed an indictment against the foursome.
You can view the full indictment against Vick by clicking here.
Prosecutors say Vick, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor used a property Vick owns in Smithfield, Va., "as the main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved in the dogfighting venture and [for] hosting dog fights."
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