Michael Vick’s colossal fall from multimillionaire football megastar to federal inmate culminated Monday when U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson sentenced him to 23 months in prison on a single dogfighting charge.
Federal guidelines called for a sentence between 18 and 24 months because Vick tested positive for marijuana while out on bond and the judge found the former All-Pro quarterback lied to federal authorities about his role in killing under-performing dogs on the property he owned in Surry County, where the dogfighting operation was based.
“You were instrumental in promoting, funding and facilitating this cruel and inhumane sporting activity,” Hudson said. “I am convinced this was not a momentary lapse in judgment. You were a full partner and I am not convinced you have accepted full responsibility for your role in this illegal venture.”
Vick, clad in a prison-issue, black-and-white-striped jumpsuit, again apologized to his friends and family before Hudson sentenced him. He agreed when Hudson pointed out that Vick also apologize to the “young people” who idolized him.
“I know I have used poor judgment and made poor decisions in the past,” the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback said. “One day when this is over, I would like everyone to see the real Michael Vick is not the same Michael Vick that the media has been portraying.”
Vick’s sentence is longer than that of two of his co-defendants, who were sentenced to 18 and 21 months, respectively. A fourth conspirator will be sentenced this week.
“He was involved in this thing up to his neck,” said Michael Gill, the case’s lead federal prosecutor.
Vick’s lawyers asked Hudson for a shorter term, pointing to Vick’s clean criminal record before his summer indictment on onecount of conspiracy related to his involvement with dogfighting.
William Martin, Vick’s lead attorney, tried to convince Hudson that Vick used marijuana because he was “clinically depressed” by the indictment and the harm it caused to his lucrative gridiron career.
“What he attempted to do was self-medicate,” Martin told a skeptical Hudson. “Should he have self-medicated, obviously not, but he was trying to deal with it.”
Hudson also sentenced Vick to three years of supervised probation after the prison term ends and imposed a $5,000 fine. Vick, who turned himself into authorities last month to get a jump on serving his sentence, is scheduled to be released in October 2009. He could leave prison several months earlier if he maintains good behavior while incarcerated.
