Mike Vick state trial to be delayed?

What is going on in Surry County, VA?

It was announced today that Michael Vick, and his three co-defendents on dogfighting chargeswill have their state hearing delayed until all the men are released from federal prison. 

"We don't intend to go forward until these guys are released," said County Attorney Gerald Poindexter.  Poindexter noted the expense of flying the men in for their trial as the reason for not holding the hearings.

 The men are in prison (Vick for 23 months), on federal charges after pleading guilty to dogfighting conspiracy charges.  However, each of the men are set to be tried on the state level for animal cruelty -- with EACH COUNT of animal cruelty possibly carrying its own 5 year sentence.  With over 50 dogs found on the property, and many more found dead and burried in the back yard, there is a lot of opportunity here for increased jail time on state charges.

I certainly question the Constitutionality of Poindexter's decision.

I'm no fan of Michael Vick. However, like all of us, he at least deserves protection of the laws under the US Constitution. Amendment 6 of the US Constitution says that the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial.  Waiting 2 1/2 years after the charges were first filed for a court hearing hardly qualifies. 

You'll note that the Federal prosecuters moved forward with their trial without the state last August because Poindexter's group was so slow moving with their investigation and charges (Poindexter actually was out on vacation while the Feds did most of their investigating).  One has to wonder why Poindexter seems just content to drag his feet on this issue, both in the initial investigation and in his trial.  Is he trying to get the case thrown out in court?  It all seems a little odd to me - -and if not a little odd, at least unconstitutional in giving someone a speedy trial. 

Comments

[SocialMange]

Thanks for pointing out the constitutional angle, KC, that hadn't occurred to me. I was thinking that at least Vick and his cohorts wouldn't get off easy with concurrent sentences, but you're right, Poindexter's behaviour is odd.

[PAMM - People Against Mad Mothers]

Poindexter is dragging his feet because HE WAS INVOLVED IN THIS DOG FIGHTING RING!! Maybe he was just a spectator but he KNEW about it on some level. Being a spectator isn't a Federal crime. He let the feds take over to save his on skin. Now he's delaying the state trial knowing damn good and well the charges will eventually get thrown out or flat out dropped.

Does anyone really believe the community didn't know what was going on on Vick's property?

[Brent]

Surry County, VA has a population of 7,000 people, 2,600 households. The average household income in the county was about $37 million. I would think that the idea that the lone prosecuting attorney in the county didn't know what was going on in the couple of million $$ home in that county would be a little nieve.