RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick, named in dog-fighting charges, will enter a plea deal that likely includes time in jail, his lawyer told The Virginian-Pilot.
Attorney Lawrence Woodward told the newspaper that Vick, 27, would enter a guilty plea to a federal conspiracy charge next Monday in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Va.
Vick was among four men indicted on charges related to an alleged dog-fighting and betting operation on property Vick owns in Virginia. Vick's three co-defendants have entered into plea agreements in which they admitted to a role in the dog-fighting scheme.
The Virginian-Pilot reported that as part of Vick's plea agreement, federal prosecutors would recommend the quarterback be sentenced to at least a year in prison.
The newspaper account included a statement from another Vick attorney -- Washington's Billy Martin -- who said: "Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made. Michael wishes to apologize again to everyone who has been hurt by this matter."
In court documents last week, two of Vick's co-defendants said the quarterback was involved in the operation and helped kill dogs that lost fights. They also alleged that funds behind the operation -- called Bad Newz Kennels -- came almost entirely from Vick.
Vick has been barred by the NFL from joining the Falcons training camp. The league has said, if Vick made a plea deal, it would review the case.
