Earlier today (Tuesday) a judge scheduled an April 2 trial date for jailed Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick on two state felony dogfighting charges.
Vick’s lawyer, Lawrence Woodward, requested a jury trial during the 5-minute session.
The suspended NFL star did not to attend the hearing in Surry County Circuit Court. Vick is being held at a Warsaw, Va., jail after surrendering on Nov. 19 to begin serving time for a federal dogfighting conspiracy conviction.
Vick faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced Dec. 10 in the federal case.
The two state charges — beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs, and engaging in or promoting dogfighting — also are punishable by up to five years in prison each.
Ten protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stood outside the courthouse holding placards with pictures of injured dogs and the messages “Report Dogfighters!” and “Dogs Deserve Justice.”
The court also set trial dates of March 5 for co-defendants Quanis L. Phillips and Purnell A. Peace and a May 7 trial for Tony Taylor.