The first quarter of Michael Vick?s legal game took place Thursday in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va., where the Atlanta Falcons quarterback pleaded not guilty to federal dogfighting charges and was released without bond.
Vick and three other men are charged with conspiracy involving competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines. Federal prosecutors allege the operation -known as Bad Newz Kennels – operated on Vick?s property in rural, Surry County, Va.
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If convicted, Vick and the three men ? Purnell A. Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis L. Phillips, 28, of Atlanta; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va. ? face a maximum jail sentence of six years and up to $350,000 in fines and restitution.
The trial is scheduled for Nov. 26.
Among the conditions set for all the defendants is they surrender their passports, not travel outside their immediate area without court approval and do not sell or possess any dog. In addition, Vick was ordered to surrender any animal breeder or kennel license.
Vick refused to comment to reporters.
The 18-page indictment outlining Vick?s alleged involvement in dogfighting has sparked outrage across the country with animal-rights groups and led to protests against the NFL and companies Vick endorses.
This includes asmall group in Washington, D.C., which launched an on-line petition, BoycottNikeNow.com. Nike suspended the release of its latest shoe endorsed by Vick two days after his July 17 indictment.
“Suspension is a long way from termination,” BoycottNikeNow.com spokesman Naomi Seligman Steiner said. “Northing justifies them continuing this relationship.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell barred Vick from participating in Falcons training camp while the league investigates whether the former No. 1 draft pick violated its personal conduct policy. At the same time, Falcons owner Arthur Blank wanted to suspend Vick for four games before the league asked him to wait for NFL to finish its investigation.
While Vick was in court, the Falcons opened training camp in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Gene Upshaw, the NFL?s Players Association executive director, said the legal process must run its course, but he is very troubled by the allegations.
“Nothing upsets me more than what he is being charged with?” Upshaw said. “We?ve had a number of calls and every kind of e-mail you can think of and they?re not good; they?re not good at all.”
Goodell said Vick?s status as one of the NFL?s top players will have no bearing on possible disciplinary action for violating the league?s personal conduct policy.
“I am not concerned about whether it?s a star player or the 53rd player,” Goodell said. “There?s no favoritism here … We apply [the policy] consistently, evenly and we want to make sure we understand the facts before we move forward.”
? The Associated Press contributed to this story.
