Two co-defendants sentenced in Michael Vick dogfighting case

Two of the three co-defendants in the Michael Vick dogfighting case (federal) were sentenced today.

Two co-defendants sentenced in Michael Vick dogfighting case Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips, co-defendants in the federal dogfighting case involving the Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, received their sentences today, handed down by United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson. The judge did not go in-line with the "low end of the sentencing guideline range" recommended by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gill and sentenced Purnell Peace to 18 months in prison - the highest possible in his sentencing guideline range of 12 to 18 months, and Quanis Phillips was send to prison for 21 months - the middle guideline of his sentencing range of 18-24 months. The recommendation by the Assistant U.S. Attorney was in the low end of the range, because of the defendants' cooperation with the authorities. Judge Hudson said, however, that sentencing in the high end of the range reflects more accurately the nature of the crime.

Michael Vick is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10th and the last co-defendant, Tony Taylor, will face the judge on Dec. 14th. All four men are still facing state charges in the dogfighting case ran by the "Bad Newz Kennels" group. For more information on the Michael Vick dogfighting case, follow the links below.

Published on 11/30/2007