Hank Kurz, Jr. reports for the Associated Press:
Michael Vick and three co-defendants were indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on state charges related to a dogfighting ring operated on Vick’s Virginia property.
Vick, who already pleaded guilty in federal court to a dogfighting conspiracy charge and is awaiting sentencing on Dec. 10, was indicted for beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting.
The grand jury passed on indicting the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback and two co-defendants on eight counts of animal cruelty, which would have exposed them to as many as 40 years in prison if convicted.
Read it all at the link above. This is actually a break for Vick, since he avoided the more serious charges. Note the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Sussex County, Mr. Poindexter, was one of the early voices questioning whether the accusations against Vick were racially motivated. Since prosecutors generally get the charges they request from grand juries, it isn’t much of a stretch to ask if Poindexter is going easy here – normally people are indicted on the most serious charges, so prosecutors have more bargaining chips for a plea deal.
