I don’t know if Clinton Portis still maintains this is no big deal, but I suspect further details about “rape stands” and dog killings will trouble even the non-squeamish amongst you. And you’ve really got to wonder about the incredibly poor judgement shown in this instance.

But enough about the Falcons getting rid of Matt Schuab, it seems like Michael Vick is in for the legal fight of his life. From the Hampton Roads Daily Press’ Alicia Wittmeyer :

Atlanta Falcons quarterback and Newport News native Michael Vick has been indicted as a defendant in a federal criminal case, according to court documents filed today in Richmond.

The documents list Vick along with three other defendants in the case. He’s charged with conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

The three other defendants listed are Purnell A. Peace, also known as “P-Funk” and “Funk,” Quanis L. Phillips, known as “Q,” and Tony Taylor, known as “T.” According to the documents filed today, Vick went by the nickname “Ookie.” Peace is 35 years old, Taylor is 34, Phillips is 28 and Vick is 27.

If convicted on the interstate commerce, each group member could face a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution of all the money made during the dogfighting venture. If convicted on the dogfighting charge, each faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

According to the documents, Vick participated in dogfights with purses worth thousands of dollars, including one his kennel’s dog lost in which the prize was $26,000. The Moonlight Road property hosted fights with participants who came from around the country, including some from New York, Texas and North Carolina.

According to the documents, the Surry County property, at 1915 Moonlight Road, was purchased about a month after members of Bad Newz Kennels identified it as a potential dogfighting haven.

The group hosted its first dogfight at the property in late 2002. During one of the fights, one of the participants was chastised by one of the members of Bad Newz Kennels for yelling out Vick’s name in front of the crowd.

The document also discussed how members of the kennel, including Vick, killed the dogs that did not perform well. The dogs were shot, hanged, electrocuted, drowned, and at least one was killed by slamming its body into the ground, the documents said.

It should be stressed that Ookie Vick is innocent until proven guilty. And if convicted and made to serve the maximum sentence, he’ll still be young enough to play himself in the 2nd remake of “The Longest Yard”.