Guilty plea made in Vick dogfighting case

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Defendant Oscar Allen pleaded guilty in Virginia federal court to charges that he aided Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick with his dogfighting ring.

The Newport News (Va.) Daily Press said that Allen had been facing a charge similar to that of Vick and his three co-defendants, but that his legal case was not directly linked to the NFL player's case.

District Judge Henry E. Hudson, the same judge that presided at Vick's case earlier this year, heard Allen's plea on Wednesday on charges he acted as an adviser for Vick's Bad Newz Kennels operation.

Court documents said that Allen, known as "Virginia O," repeatedly advised Vick on how to train dogs for fighting and even sold one fighting dog to the NFL quarterback.

Allen said his court filing that while he help train the dogs for the dogfighting ring, he never participated in the execution of any of the animals.

The Daily Press said that Vick and his co-defendants Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor are currently awaiting sentencing for their part in the dogfighting ring.