Dog Day Afternoon: Tony Taylor Expected To Plead Guilty & Make Deal in Michael Vick Dog Fighting Case (Update: Pleads Guilty)

Dog day afternoon, or morning in this case for Michael Vick … Co-defendants plea deal just made matters a bit more sticky for Atlanta Falcons NFL quarterback, Michael Vick. It’s about to get a lot worse for Michael Vick this afternoon. Co-defendant, Tony Taylor, is expected to appear before a judge today and plead guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors in the federal dog fighting case involving Michael Vick. Of course it will be rebutted by the Vick defense team that Taylor is doing this to save his own hide. However, the indictments against Vick and his co-defendants were so heinous, any involvement in this alleged crime of dog fighting will be damaging to Michael Vick both on and off the football field.

Taylor’s quick plea could mean he has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in their case against Vick and two other co-defendants, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips. Vick, Peace and Phillips’ trial date is still set for Nov. 26 before Judge Henry E. Hudson.

Taylor’s attorney, Stephen A. Hudgins, has not responded to repeated requests for comment. A spokesman for Vick said he needed to consult with one of Vick’s four attorneys before he could make a statement. Vick co-defendant working deal

Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Va., is to appear today before federal judge Henry E. Holland for what is listed on the docket as a “plea agreement hearing.” Holland presided last Thursday as Vick and the others entered their not-guilty pleas. The trial is set for Nov. 26. (USA Today)

As a plea deal is about to come down in this case that might greatly affect what Michael Vick’s defense team does next, 200 or so Vick supporters convened outside the Georgia Dome. How ironic that the supporters of Michael Vick would compare his treatment by other to the very act that he is being accused of, “Being treated like a dog”. These guys may want to change their message as they will get no support from the public. It is astonishing that these Vick supporters seem to have no disregard for dogs what so ever.

About 200 people braved rain and thunderclaps outside the Georgia Dome on Sunday to condemn the country, the media, Nike and, most of all, the Atlanta Falcons for treating Michael Vick like a dog.

“We Support Vick a Human Being Over Dogs,” was the message of one placard to honking passing cars on Northside Drive. Other supporters said they believed Vick should be given the benefit of the doubt until his day in court. (AJC)

UPDATE I: Co-Defendant Tony Taylor Pleads Guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges  

Game on for the defense attorneys for Michael Vick in the federal dog fighting charges. Tony Taylor’s plea of guilty can agreement to fully cooperate with federal prosecutors can only mean further trouble for Michael Vick. No one pleads guilty unless two elements are present. One, that they are first guilty and two, it was inferred that a lesser sentence would be provided for their cooperation against a bigger fish.

One of Michael Vick’s co-defendants pleaded guilty Monday to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges and agreed to fully cooperate with the government in its prosecution of the Atlanta Falcons star and two other men.

Tony Taylor, 34, who will be sentenced Dec. 14, said he was not promised any specific sentence in return for his cooperation.

Taylor faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but federal sentencing guidelines likely will call for less. The guideline range will be determined by the court’s probation office, and U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson can depart from that range if he finds aggravating or mitigating circumstances.

The written plea agreement requires Taylor to “testify truthfully and completely at any grand juries, trials or other proceedings.” It says any truthful information provided by Taylor cannot form the basis of a stiffer sentence or additional charges.