Michael Vick Will Work With Young People

Suspended NFL Star Michael Vick is leaving a job with a Virginia construction company to work with youngsters at Boys & Girls Clubs. Steven Kast, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula, says Vick will be working with children on health and fitness activities at several clubs in the Hampton Roads area. Vick was a regular at the Boys & Girls Club in Newport News as a youngster. Vick needed a job to meet the conditions of his probation and had been working as a $10-an-hour laborer. Vick, whose lawyers were in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Norfolk on Tuesday, is in house arrest for the last two months of a nearly two-year sentence for operating a dogfighting ring. His lawyers say a new bankruptcy plan gives creditors more of his future earnings.

(Associated Press)

Fugitive Arrested After 27 Years

The FBI says a man who escaped from a Virginia prison in 1982 has been arrested in Georgia. Gregory Jones, special agent in charge of the FBI in Atlanta, says 56-year-old Richard Boucher was taken into custody Wednesday morning on a fugitive warrant in Murray County, along the Tennessee line, where he has been living for most of the past 27 years. Jones says Boucher, using the alias Eric Coleman, was serving a 10-year robbery sentence at the Virginia Department of Corrections Prison in Chesapeake, Va., when he escaped. Jones says Boucher is also charged by Murray County with possession of a firearm by a felon because a rifle was found at his home in Eton, where he was living with his 53-year-old wife, Debbie. She was charged by local authorities with hindering apprehension of a criminal.

(Associated Press)

Local bank goes under

Another Georgia bank has gone under. Federal bank regulators seized the Community Bank of Loganville. A Virginia bank is assuming the bank's assets and the former Community Bank of Loganville locations are being renamed Bank of Essex. This is the 3rd Georgia bank to fold in four months, the 20th in the nation to fail this year.

(Atlanta Business Chronicle)

Michael Vick's state trial continued

The state dog fighting trial of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has been continued. Vick was scheduled to stand trial on state charges in Virginia on April 2nd. No new date has been set. Vick is already serving a 23-month prison sentence on federal dog fighting charges.

Vick to receive sentence today

Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick this morning will appear in Virginia federal court to learn his sentence for his role in a dogfighting operation. Vick's hearing is scheduled for 10am in Richmond, in front of U.S. District Court judge Henry Hudson. Vick faces a maximum of five years, but sentencing guidelines and recommendations call for a term of 12-18 months. Prosecutors have recommended the low end of that suggested term. Vick reported to prison last month to get a jump on his expected sentence. Two of Vick's co-defendants were sentenced last week. Purnell Peace got 18 months--Quanis Phillips received 21 months behind bars. A third co-defendant will learn his sentence Friday.

Two Vick co-defendants to be sentenced today

Michael Vick may get some type of idea of the sentence he'll get for dogfighting, when the judge in the case hands-down sentences for two of his fellow co-defendants today.

Quanis Phillips and Purnell Peace each face up to five years in prison for their roles in a dogfighting ring. The two will be sentenced today in Virginia. Vick's sentencing is set for December 10th.

Vick date set to face Virginia dogfighting charges

Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick has a trial date set to face state dogfighting charges in Virginia.

In a hearing in Sussex County-Virginia Tuesday morning, the date of April 2nd was scheduled. Vick was not present for the five minute session, in which his lawyer requested a jury trial.

The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback has been in prison since last week. He's getting a jump on serving time for federal dogfighting charges. Vick faces up to five years behind bars when he is sentenced on December 10th.

Vick’s three fellow co-defendants will also face state charges. Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips have a trial date of March 5--Tony Taylor is scheduled for May 7. Peace and Phillips receive their federal sentencing this Friday.

Vick and the three are charged with state counts of beating or killing dogs, and engaging in a dogfighting operation.

Vick surrenders early in dog fighting case

Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has begun serving his sentence in a Virginia prison on federal dog fighting charges. Vick was scheduled to be sentenced on December 10th. However, an assistant to U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson of Richmond Virginia confirms Vick voluntarily surrendered himself to officials with the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Hudson signed the order allowing Vick to turn himself in earlier today. Four people have pleaded guilty in the case. Earlier this year, Vick acknowledged he was part of a dogfighting operation known as Bad Newz Kennels at his former property in Surry County, Va. In a plea agreement, Vick admitted the operation involved the "victimization and killing of pit bull dogs." Under federal sentencing guidelines, Michael Vick faces up to five months in prison, although Judge Hudson could impose a sentence below or above that range if he sees fit.

Man admits selling dog to Vick

Another man has pleaded guilty in connection with Michael Vick’s dog fighting case. Oscar Allen admits to selling the suspended Atlanta Falcons Quarterback a champion pit bull. Allen admitted in a statement that he sold a female pit bull named Jane in 2001 to Vick’s company –called Bad Newz Kennels -- in rural Virginia. Vick and three co-defendants have also pleaded guilty.

Vick gets state trial date, dog care lessons

The state dog fighting trial against Michael Vick is scheduled to start November 27th in Virginia. The Atlanta Falcons quarterback was charged last week in rural Surry County, where police say Vick has run a dog fighting enterprise since 2001. Vick has already pleaded guilty to federal charges. He has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL without pay.

Michael Vick also recently spent eight hours learning how to care for animals. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals spokesman Dan Shannon said Vick was attentive and inquisitive during a September 18 class on animal protection and empathy in Norfolk, Virginia. Vick was the only student. PETA wants the NFL to require the course, or one like it, for all players.

Vick indicted in Virginia

Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick now faces state charges in Virginia related to dog fighting. Today a grand jury handed down indictments against Vick and three co-defendants. However, the grand jury declined to indict them on animal cruelty charges. Vick has already pleaded guilty to federal dog fighting charges and is scheduled to be sentenced in December.