Mammoth Blog

-- Michael Vick has reached a deal to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges, but he will have to appear in court in person rather than by video conference call to submit his guilty plea.

The Virginian-Pilot newspaper reported here Thursday that Surry County Circuit Court Judge Samuel Campbell denied the request by the former National Football League superstar quarterback to appear in court by a video link.

Vick is currently serving a prison sentence in Kansas after pleading guilty 14 months ago to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges connected to his financing of a dogfight ring based in kennels on land he owned in the area.

Campbell said at a hearing that there is no provision in Virginia state law allowing for a plea by video conference.

As a result, Vick was ordered to appear in person at a November 25 hearing to enter his plea, although Campbell did say a deal for a guilty plea had been reached between prosecutors and Vick's attorneys.

Vick, 28, hopes he might be able to leave prison sooner by pleading guilty to the state charge. Vick was sentenced last December to 23 months in prison but could have that sentence trimmed to 18 months with good behavior.

That could enable Vick to be released from prison in time for the start of National Football League team training camps next July, although he would need support from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and interest from a team to return to the league. source>>>