Va. Atty. Gen. will prosecute Michael Vick

RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Virginia Attorney General Gerald Poindexter Friday said the state will prosecute Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback Michael Vick on dog-fighting charges.

Vick has pleaded innocent and has a trial date of Nov. 20. However, Vick’s attorneys were quoted this week saying their client was considering a plea.

Prosecutors allege dogs on property Vick owned in Virginia were trained for use in fights. Sometimes, if a losing dog survived a fight, it was killed -- either by drowning, shooting, hanging or other methods, investigators said.

Poindexter Friday told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he will probably submit his case against Vick and others to a grand jury scheduled to convene Sept. 25.

"The execution of these animals -- and the manner in which they were executed -- is startlingly offensive and demanding of prosecution," he said.

Two men indicted with Vick pleaded guilty Friday in Virginia to federal conspiracy charges related to dog-fighting.

Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips said they would help authorities in their investigation into an alleged dog-fighting ring prosecutors said was based on Vick’s property. Peace and Phillips pleaded guilty to conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal-fighting venture.

Both could be sentenced to five years in prison and fined $250,000. They are to be sentenced before the end of the year.

Another co-defendant, Tony Taylor, pleaded guilty July 30.