Vick sentenced to 23 months for dogfighting

[flvegan]

Source: CNN

RICHMOND, Virginia (CNN) -- Michael Vick, once one of the highest paid players in the National Football League, was sentenced to 23 months in prison for financing a dogfighting ring and helping to kill pit bulls that did not fight aggressively.

Vick's stunning downfall from NFL superstar to disgraced dogfighting defendant culminated Monday in a 90-minute sentencing hearing in federal court in Richmond, Virginia.

Vick, 27, faced a maximum of five years in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 12 to 18 months.

Animal rights protesters lined up outside the courthouse. Some carried signs with photographs of dogs, while others read "Dogs deserve justice," and "Report dog fighters."

Vick and three co-defendants still face trial on state dogfighting charges in Virginia. They are accused of torturing and killing dogs and promoting dogfights -- all felonies that carry five-year maximum sentences.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/12/10/vick.sentenced/index.html

[underpants]

1. Lots of camera crews on Bank Street

I went and took a look at them a while ago.

There was an openhouse at the Vick Bad Newz place this weekend.

They should have given him the max.

[bitchkitty]

2. Good! I hope that

the state adds to that time - and that the sentence runs consecutively!

[The Icon Painter]

3. Not Enough

I feel that this is a ridiculously light sentence for what this man(?) did. He should have gotten the full five years regardless of the sentencing guidelines. I can only hope that the state of Virginia takes a more serious view of his crimes and those of his accomplices. I would rejoice if he does not again see freedom for at least forty years. Animals have only us to speak for redress of the crimes committed against them.:grr:

[zonkers]

4. He will probably do 13 or so months with good behavior.

[The Icon Painter]

5. Alas

I fear you are right. Sports 'heroes' are forgiven all.

[zonkers]

15. I doubt he will be forgiven. And though it is a short sentence in the face of

all the misery he caused, it is a first step towards protecting animals. It does send a message. It is still a serious amount of time. Plus he still faces state charges. Plus he has to take care of those remaining 40 dogs for the rest of their life at the cost of millions. (I'd sure like to see a pic of those dogs living it up)

Now lets stop those lousy japanese whale hunts. Why does it always take foreigners to intervene? Why don't Japanese citizens step up?

[saigon68]

47. they won't step up because they are

mindless clueless drones

[kay1864]

19. Only three months off per the AP:

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

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-vicksentencing&prov=ap&type=lgns

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. Forty years?

Ay yay yay.

It's no wonder the criminal sentencing in this country has gone completely insane when an otherwise rational person suggest forty years in prison for Vick's crime.

We are a nation of morons.

[ecstatic]

8. so true... nt

[Tyler Durden]

12. While 40 years is a bit excessive.....

I feel his sentence for an amusing pastime involving torture and killing of trusting dogs was light, and although he has lost a great deal of money in the bargain, I say it served him right.

You over generalize and demonize with your "we are a nation of morons." Perhaps if the rich and powerful actually PAID for their crimes once in a while, we could return to being a nation of justice.

[bitchkitty]

17. Moron?

It would never happen, he probably wouldn't get that if he murdered a human being. But I understand the poster's feelings. In my heart I feel 40 years IS unreasonable - it's not enough for what he did! If my dog were among those he had tortured and killed, the topic headline would have read "Bitchkitty Tortures and Kills Vick!"

I'm no genius, but I'm certainly no moron! I just LOVE my little guy!

[alcibiades_mystery]

20. In ancient Greece

Justice was associated with "a sense of proportion." That was the connotation.

Proportion.

We've lost all sense of it.

So yes, moron is a bit strong, and probably incorrect. It's more like an absolute loss of proportion. Now, you say that the headline would be "Bitchkitty Tortures and Kills Vick." But could you really torture and kill somebody? Could you physically torture somebody to death? Think about it. The screaming, the pleading, the agony, the look in the eyes? Could you do it? I suspect not, even if your dog was killed. That gulf between the desire and the act is our sense of proportion intervening.

We have to start snuggling up to our imagined punishments.

[bitchkitty]

25. No, probably not.

Being a compassionate human being, I would probably just put him through some humiliating shit and then put him out in a redneck corner of town without his pants - capturing all of it on video of course. ;)

Like I said, intellectually, I understand that 40 years is too much.

I agree with you on proportion, but probably not the way you're thinking. If we had a very wise justice system, we would have proportion - someone who did this would be subject to more time than 23 months - at least more time than someone committing a non-violent crime, even one involving a lot of money.

Someone who treats a defensive animal in this fashion is psychologically damaged, probably beyond repair. My humble opinion, I'm not a shrink.

[BadgerLaw2010]

11. The judge went over guidelines, and ignored prosecutor recommendation as it is.

Guidelines said 12-18, prosecution agreed to ask for 12, judge gave him 23.

[Roland99]

18. *minimum* was 12-18. He should have given the maxium. Let's hope the State of Virginia does.

[allisonthegreat]

42. What saddened me even more because I was already mad

Was the women with her beagle that had a little sideboard on it that said "Dog fighters use little guys like me for training". That really did it for me. I wish they would put him under the jail. But because he is a big celebrity they are lightening everything up. Pit's are adorable creatures. They are only mean when they are trained that way.

[ellisonz]

49. It's not like he had pot!

:sarcasm:

[Tyler Durden]

7. In reading of his extensive financial ruin...I say: GOOD.

A foul and evil man, who tortured and killed the very creatures who insured our rise from the caves: may this sting at itch at him for the rest of his life.

[razzleberry]

9. Human : Dog ... punishment ratio should be what? n/t

[Tyler Durden]

13. Obviously, you do not have companion animals.

It tends to make one a little harder on those who torture and kill the innocent and unknowing for cruel sport.

[CherokeeDem]

10. Agree with "Not Enough"

We cannot begin to deter this behavior of cruelty to animals unless the sentences are stiff,although I don't agree that 40 years is appropriate.. This behavior is not only heinous because of the suffering of the animals but also because many feel that animal abuse is a possible indicator or precursor for human abuse. One hopes he didn't get this sentence because of his "celebrity" and for goodness sakes, he probably won't serve much more time than Martha Stewart did. Sometimes, I think this country does not have it priorities in the correct order. You think?



edited to add the comment about 40 years. Debbie

[flvegan]

14. I think that if we decriminalized certain things

we could more appropriately sentence those that are deserving of more time in jail. Not just dogfighters, but the rapists and other predators.

Our priorities are out of whack, yes.

[Wise Doubter]

16. On a 2yr sentence, He`ll do 10 mos 20 days. n/t

[kay1864]

21. Nope. At least 20 months per the AP

See above.

[GOPNotForMe]

22. Good! Wish there was more time, but at least he got some! nt

[Number9Dream]

23. Vick should also do service in animal shelters

Thanks flvegan.
Please read "Dogfighting's Day Of Reckoning" from the HSUS site.

http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2007/12/vick-sentence.html

Upon Vick's release from jail, he should have to do community service at an animal shelter for a long time.

[bitchkitty]

26. Uh uh -

that would be like putting a pedophile to work in a daycare!

[LeftyMom]

28. That man doesn't belong within 1000 yards of any dog. nt

[DWilliamsamh]

24. Good: Now can we get back to something important?

PLEASSEEEE??????

Seriously, he's a scum bag who was cruel to animals. Let s get back to issues that really mater now..

[flvegan]

27. There's much more to this than just this scumbag.

I'll spare you the details considering the lack of importance it has to you.

[DWilliamsamh]

34. Oh I know the details... how could I not it was all over every news

Outlet there is. Much as the Natalie Holloway story was. And just like when Holloway was all the rage - there were hundreds of your fellow citizens in dire straits at the hands of this government and their fellow citizens who got no mention and no care from the press at all. Kill a few hundred teenagers in the inner cities of Baltimore, Newark and Philadelphia and every one (including a LOT of DUers) yawn. Run a cruel dog fighting ring, and everyone is outraged - some demanding 40 years in prison.

It is not your feeling about animal cruelty I object to, it is spending even one more day on Michael Vick. In the grand scheme of things that this nation has to deal with, Michael Vick and his behavior ultimately is not important. Have at it for a few hours. Gloat and feel good about the fact that he's going to jail. He deserves to be there... but then lets get back to more important things like maybe taking our country back from the thugs in the White House and their cronies.

[flvegan]

You still missed it.

I can also focus on more than one thing. Whatever.

[DWilliamsamh]

37. Thanks for the proof reading.... (N/T)

[emilyg]

30. This is important.

[DWilliamsamh]

36. Not as important as a LOT of other topics here on DU

And in the real world. Sorry, as much as I love dogs - and I do love dogs - I am MUCH more upset about the hundreds killed in Philadelphia, shot dead in the streets, this year than what sentence Vick got. He deserves to be in jail - but his disposition is a wart on the backside of the really important issues that don't need energy taken off: Like taking our country back from the Republican overlord wanna-be's. That's all.

[Beaverhausen]

46. So why open the thread or post in it?

Is someone holding a gun to your head?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

38. No it's not.

It's celebrity news.

[LeftyMom]

32. Systestematic abuse of animals for sadism and profit is important.

If you'd ever locked eyes with the survivors you wouldn't doubt that.

[DWilliamsamh]

33. It isn't the systematic abuse of animals that I find unimportant.

It is spending even one more day on Michael Vick. In the grand scheme of things that this nation has to deal with, Michael Vick and his behavior ultimately is not important. Have at it for a few hours. Gloat and feel good about the fact that he's going to jail. He deserves to be ther... but then lets get back to more important things like maybe taking our country back from the tugs in the White House and their cronies.

[LeftyMom]

35. I'm just glad this issue is getting attention.

I don't care if it's Mike Vick or Joe Schmoe that makes it happen. But the public attention got those dogs a second chance- they're almost all going to rescue facilities rather than being euthanized after the trial, which is the norm in cases like this. If nothing else, that set a really good precedent that's going to save a lot of lives, and knowing the dogs might get a second chance will likely get more people to report fighting rings.

[LanternWaste]

43. Honestly--?

Honestly--? I think I can morally multi-task. My visceral enjoyment of him getting locked up doesn't take anything away from my environmental and Amnesty International concerns.

Because to be honest, if we don't put everything we possibly can into saving, preserving and maintaining the environment, every passion of yours, every pet peeve of yours, everything you define as important, good and evil will be nothing more than a footnote in a history that will never have the opportunity to get written.

[LiberalFighter]

29. Mickey Sherman -Criminal Defense Attorney

Stated that Vick got hammered in the sentencing. Thinks Vick was treated very harshly. What a scumbag.

Guidelines as he stated were 18 to 24 months but he could had received 5 years. YET, the idiot provided the reasons why Vick received 23 months. Planning, finance, on his property, and he had a hands on involvement. And he thought he was treated harshly?

I doubt this guy has any pets. He is married to Lis Wiehl a FOX (insert description) legal analyst and regular co-host on the Bill the Liar show.

[LiberalFighter]

31. My respect for Hank Aaron went down

Heard on CNN that Hank was trying to encourage the judge to reduce the sentence. There were a few others supporting Vick.

[IndianaJones]

39. my respect for Aaron grows. nt.

[LeftyMom]

44. that alone ought to give him pause

Though I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it's just senility in his case.

[LiberalFighter]

48. I guess you think it's okay to abuse and torture animals

[Amerigo Vespucci]

40. He deserves every minute of that and more, the effing punk.

Whoopi and Jaime Foxx can visit him in the slammer and constantly remind him of how he's a victim of his upbringing.

[awoke_in_2003]

41. My question, will the league stand up?

The new commissioner wants to clean up the league. He can go a long way by banning ex-felons from playing in the league.

[LeftyMom]

45. The teams should do it themselves.

They have conduct clauses in their contracts, there's no reason the teams can't enforce them, except that for the most part they don't want to.

There's certainly precedent. The 49ers gave Jeff Garcia the boot for a DUI.

[kryckis]

50. It should have been even longer.

I have absolutely no respect or compassion for someone who tortures and kills trusting companion animals. It's so vile it's just unthinkable. Something's wrong upstairs.

I hope he gets more time and I hope there's not a second that goes by in his life where he doesn't think of what he's done. Just... ugh.

[ThePowerofWill]

51. Not near enough.

The thought of someone killing poor puppies is almost as bad as murder in my eyes. Just sickens my soul.

On a bright note he got something, and it was more than the recommended amount. His career is shot so i guess i can add that to.