The job of the federal prosecutor in the Michael Vick case just got a little bit easier as the other two co-defendants have reportedly agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to cross state lines to engage in illegal gambling; to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture; and to buy, transport and receive dogs for animal fighting. As far as conspiracy charges go, an early guilty plea typically suggests that defendants are cooperating with the government. In other words, co-defendants Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips, and Tony Taylor are probably going to implicate Vick’s involvement in dog-fighting.
If Peace and Phillips do join Taylor in pleading guilty and implicating Vick, then the federal government has already taken a substantial step in satisfying its burden of proof that Vick was in fact aware and a knowing participant in dog-fighting. To use a football analogy, Vick’s team is behind and it needs a touchdown to win, the opposing team is blitzing, Vick’s pocket is closing fast, he’s in the middle of the field on the 50 yard line, and there’s only a few seconds left on the clock.
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