Man who sold dogs to Vick pleads guilty
Lawyer Blogs
A man who sold Michael Vick two pitbulls for his dogfighting operation pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Richmond to the same charges for which the Falcons quarterback and three co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.
Oscar Allen, of Williamsburg, Va., waived indictment and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to a criminal information charging him with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce to aid in illegal gambling and to sponsor a dog in animal fighting.
According to court documents, in or about 2001, Allen -- known as "Virginia O" -- bred a litter of puppies for Bad Newz Kennels, the name of Vick's dogfighting operation, for use in animal fighting. One of the puppies was a male pitbull named Magic. In or about 2002 or 2003, Allen also sold Vick and his co-defendants a female pitbull named Jane, according to the documents. Both dogs are mentioned by name in court documents in Vick's case.
Allen also acknowledges that he gave members of Bad Newz Kennels, comprised of Vick, Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips and Tony Taylor, advice on the operation of a dogfighting kennel and attended dogfights at Vick's rural Virginia home, 1915 Moonlight Road, in Surry County. Allen also stated that he was present in April 2007 when Vick, Peace and Phillips tested dogs to determine if they would be good fighters. The dogs that did not test well were executed, but Allen said he was not present.
Court documents specifically refer to Bad Newz Kennels and Vick's address, but refer to the co-defendants as M.V., P.P., Q.P. and T.T.
Allen, 67, will be sentenced Jan. 25, 2008, in Richmond in front of Judge Henry E. Hudson, who will also sentence Vick and his co-defendants. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was released with conditions.
Vick and his co-defendants also face state charges in Virginia. Another hearing in that case is scheduled for Nov. 27.
In the federal case, Phillips and Peace will be sentenced Nov. 30. Vick will be sentenced on Dec. 10, the same day the Falcons play New Orleans on "Monday Night Football" without the quarterback who has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Taylor, the first of the co-defendants to reach a plea agreement, will be sentenced Dec. 14.
Related listings
-
Blackwater accused of tax evasion
Lawyer Blogs 10/23/2007[##_1L|1140400383.jpg|width="130" height="130" alt=""|_##]Blackwater USA, the security company that has come under intense scrutiny on Capitol Hill after a September 16 incident in which it allegedly opened fire on Iraqi civilians and killed 17, was ...
-
Ford Sued Over Cruise Control Switch
Lawyer Blogs 10/22/2007A Virginia man whose pickup truck caught fire last year is suing Ford Motor Co. for damages over a faulty cruise control switch that has led to engine fires and millions of recalled vehicles.Gary Medrano, of Woodbridge, Va., filed the lawsuit on Mond...
-
Capital Punishment at Crossroads in US
Lawyer Blogs 10/22/2007[##_1L|1127448919.jpg|width="180" height="135" alt=""|_##]Stop executions for a while and perhaps they can be stopped forever. That calculation has been part of the strategy of capital punishment opponents for decades. The Supreme Court-inspired slow...
Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.