Vick indicted on additional dog fighting charges
RICHMOND, United States (AFP) — National Football League gridiron star Michael Vick was indicted on a new round of charges related to a series of dog fights he conducted on his US property.
Vick already had pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges.
The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback is set to be sentenced on those charges on December 10.
Vick's federal offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a 250,000 dollars fine.
The latest indictment handed down was for Vick beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging or promoting dogfighting. He was not indicted on eight counts of animal cruelty.
Neither Vick nor his lawyer were present in court Tuesday.
In the summary of facts accompanying the plea agreement filed on the federal charges, Vick admitted that six to eight dogs killed in April of this year died as a result of the "collective efforts" of himself and two of his three co-defendants, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.
The summary outlined the story of how the operation - known as the "Bad Newz Kennels" - began in 2001 and continued until April of this year.
The operation was largely funded by Vick, including money bet on the outcome of fights.
The summary stated that Vick paid for the house, in Surry County, Virginia, where the dogs were kenneled and where numerous fights were staged.
Federal documents show that dogs didn't perform well were killed by drowning, electrocution and other means.
Since being suspended indefinitely by the NFL, Vick has lost numerous endorsements, including Nike.
Peace, Phillips and Tony Taylor were indicted along with Vick on the state charges.
