Judge to Set Trial Date

A Surry County judge will set a trial date for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three co-defendants on state dogfighting charges during a hearing on November 27.

Surry County's top prosecutor says Vick and the others aren't expected to be in court that day. He made his remarks after a hearing Wednesday to determine if each of the defendants had legal representation.

Virginia Beach attorney Larry Woodward said Vick turned himself in last week in Surry County for pretrial processing and bonding. Vick already has pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge and is awaiting sentencing in December.

Vick was charged last week in the rural county, home to his dogfighting enterprise since 2001, with two state felony counts. His lawyers have said they will fight the state charges on the grounds he can't be convicted twice of the same crime.

Bonus Money

The Atlanta Falcons will try to convince an arbitrator the team deserves a refund on up to $22 million in bonus money paid to quarterback Michael Vick.

The Falcons will be represented Thursday by team president and general manager Rich McKay and three more team officials in the private hearing in Philadelphia.

Attorneys representing the NFL Players Association will argue against the Falcons' claim. An expert in sports contracts said the Falcons face long odds in their effort to have bonus money returned to the team.

The Falcons are expected to contend that Vick knew he was in violation of the contract when signed his deal and used proceeds to fund his dogfighting operation.

Pit Bull Condition

A federal judge in Richmond has ordered that one of 49 pit bulls seized from a home owned by Michael Vick be euthanized. Animal behavior experts say the dog is too aggressive.

The order was signed by U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson after federal prosecutors filed a motion Monday that said experts determined the other 48 dogs could possibly be adopted.

According to court records, Hudson has not ruled on the fate of the other 48 dogs. The motion also requests that the court appoint a guardian-special master to oversee the disposition and possible placement of the 48 remaining dogs.

Vick and three co-defendants pleaded guilty to federal dogfighting charges and are to be sentenced before the end of the year.

Representatives of the four appeared in Surry County Circuit Court Wednesday for their first appearance since local indictments were handed down in the case last week. The appearance is for the court to determine whether the defendants have legal representation.

Animal Class

Officials with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals say Michael Vick was attentive and inquisitive during an eight-hour class in empathy and animal protection.

The animal rights group says Vick took the course during his second visit to the organization's headquarters in Norfolk and returned a third time to take a written test. PETA says Vick completed the course on September 18.

Spokesman Dan Shannon was with the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback for the duration of the class. Shannon says Vick told him "he wished he had gotten to take a course like this five years ago."

The NFL star already faces sentencing in December on a federal dogfighting charge. Vick also was indicted last week in the rural county where he built a massive home on 15 acres that had been home to the enterprise since 2001.

He's charged with beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Family Member Pleads Guilty

The Michael Vick family member whose drug arrest led to the discovery of Vick's dogfighting compound pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing marijuana with intent to sell.

Davon Boddie is the cousin of the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback. Boddie was given a five-year suspended sentence by in Hampton Circuit Court.

The 27-year-old used to live in the house owned by Vick in Surry County, site of Vick's "Bad Newz Kennels" dogfighting operation. He now lives in Newport News.

Boddie was arrested April 20 after a police dog tracked a scent of marijuana coming from his parked car. The arrest led to the search of the Surry County property, where authorities found dozens of pit bulls and equipment commonly used in dogfighting.

Vick has since pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge, and he faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced December 10. He also has been indicted on state dogfighting charges.