Michael Vick’s trial on state dogfighting charges was rescheduled on Tuesday for June 27.
The trial was originally set for April 2, but Surry County Circuit Judge W. Allan Sharrett decided to push it back as suggested by Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Poindexter and Vick’s lawyers. Trials for two of Vick’s co-defendants were also postponed.
The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback is serving a 23-month prison term in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy. Vick has been charged with two state felony counts — beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting.
Co-defendants Quanis Phillips and Purnell Peace are serving federal sentences in Oklahoma and New Jersey, respectively. Their trials originally were set for March 5. Phillips’ non-jury trial was scheduled for June 13; Peace’s trial by jury was reset for June 20. A third co-defendant, Tony Taylor, is still scheduled for trial May 7, but Poindexter said that trial will be continued.
As previously reported, Taylor was released from federal prison Thursday after serving a two-month sentence. Prosecutors said Taylor cooperated with the government in the case against Vick and two others for their roles in operating Bad Newz Kennels.