Suspended NFL quarterback Michael Vick's trial on state dogfighting charges in Surry County was rescheduled yesterday for June 27.

Vick, who is in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal dogfighting-conspiracy charge, was to have been tried on the state charges next week.

But Surry Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter requested in a joint motion with defense lawyers that the trial be pushed back, along with the trials of two co-defendants. Poindexter cited the difficulties of transporting the defendants from federal prison to face the Surry charges.

Circuit Judge W. Allen Sharrett granted the motion, said Sally Neblett, court administrator for the 6th Judicial District, which includes Surry.

Vick, 27, is charged with one count of dogfighting and one of animal cruelty. Each is a felony carrying a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison. Vick currently is serving a 23-month sentence on the federal charge, at the federal prison camp at Leavenworth, Kan.

Defense lawyers have indicated they will challenge the legality of the state charges on the grounds that Vick already has pleaded guilty in federal court to essentially the same offenses.

The judge yesterday rescheduled the trial of one of Vick's co-defendants, Quanis Phillips, for June 13. Phillips has asked the judge to decide the case rather than a jury, Neblett said. The trial of another co-defendant, Purnell Peace, was rescheduled for June 20 before a jury, Neblett said.

Vick's trial on June 27 also will be before a jury, she said.

A third Vick co-defendant, Anthony Taylor, who has finished serving his federal prison term, is scheduled for a jury trial on the Surry charges on May 7. All four trials are to take place in the Sussex County courthouse because the Surry courthouse is undergoing renovation.

All four men pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in a dogfighting operation at Vick's property in rural Surry, where an unrelated search turned up more than 60 dogs and a range of dogfighting and training equipment.

Vick's guilty plea cost him his job as a quarterback with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, along with millions of dollars worth of endorsement contracts. His attorneys have indicated he hopes to return to football after serving his time.
Contact Bill Geroux at (757) 498-2820 or bgeroux@timesdispatch.com.