Michael Vick pleads not guilty to dogfighting charges

July 26, 2007

Virginia - NFL player Michael Vick pleaded not guilty Thursday to dogfighting charges, and a trial date was set for November after his defense attorney asked a judge for a delay, citing the complexity of the case.

Vick, 27, arrived at the federal courthouse in Richmond, Virginia, shortly before 3 p.m. ET.

Curious spectators, animal rights activists and Vick supporters, who crowded around the courthouse in anticipation of his arrival, erupted into boos and cheers as he approached, wearing a coat and tie and accompanied by U.S. marshals. Vick did not acknowledge the crowd as he entered the courthouse. A line of people trying to get inside the courthouse wrapped around the building.

Fans and detractors -- waving signs saying "Prosecute all dogfighters" and "Let Vick play" -- staked out territory at the courthouse hours before the hearing was to begin, along with eager media crews.

No cameras were allowed inside the courtroom during the proceedings, which began around 3:30.

Vick and three associates were indicted by a federal grand jury last week on charges they conspired to organize bloody and vicious dogfights on a piece of property that Vick bought in 2001.

If convicted on both portions of the conspiracy charge, they each could be sentenced to up to six years in prison and fined $350,000, prosecutors said.

According to the federal indictment, dogs that didn't show enough fighting spirit, or that lost matches, were put to death by a variety of methods, including shooting, drowning, hanging and electrocution.

Prosecutors allege that on one occasion earlier this year, Vick participated in killing eight dogs.

Neither Vick nor his attorneys have made a public comment on the charges.

In addition to his Falcons contract, he also has endorsement deals with several companies -- one of which, shoe giant Nike, suspended the release of a shoe bearing the quarterback's name.

If the dogfighting controversy had not arisen, Vick would have been expected to spend Thursday with his teammates on the first day of training at the team's camp outside Atlanta.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has told Vick to stay away from the Falcons' training camp while the league finishes its review of the indictment. Goodell also told the Falcons to hold off on any disciplinary action until the review is complete, team owner Arthur Blank said.

Blank called the allegations "very repulsive to all of us," adding, "It's not the young man that I've gotten to know, certainly." But he said he has not asked Vick directly whether the allegations are true.

"I felt that was part of a legal process he needs to go through," Blank said.

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