Vick sentenced to 23 months for dogfighting

Star QB tells judge he's 'willing to accept responsibility for my actions'


RICHMOND, Va. - Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for his role in a dogfighting conspiracy that involved gambling and killing pit bulls.


The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have been sentenced up to five years by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Vick, who turned himself in Nov. 19 in anticipation of his sentence, was wearing a black-and-white striped prison suit.


After Vick apologized to the court and his family, Hudson told him: “You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you.”


Federal rules governing time off for good behavior could reduce Vick’s prison stay by about three months, resulting in a summer 2009 release.


Vick was suspended without pay by the NFL and lost all his lucrative endorsement deals.


Two of Vick’s co-defendants were sentenced Nov. 30. Purnell Peace of Virginia Beach got 18 months, Quanis Phillips of Atlanta 21 months. Another co-defendant, Tony Taylor, will be sentenced Friday.
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THANKS, Judge Hudson, for setting the penalty above the minimum.
We need a few more Judges who treat dogfighting as the Serious CRIME that it is!


/s/ Phred