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Michael Vick Opts to Start Prison Sentence Now

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 07:54:58 PM EST
Tags: Michael Vick (all tags)
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Michael Vick doesn't face sentencing for his dog-fighting case until December 10. But he decided to start serving the sentence today.

I'm not getting this. Why would he want to serve three weeks in a county jail instead of a federal prison camp? Why does he want to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas in prison? He would likely have gotten a voluntary surrender to the designated institution on December 10, putting the start of his sentence off until January. I don't think it will have a major impact on the sentencing judge, and he's still facing state felony charges.

Maybe he's feeling like he's just wasting time while waiting and would rather get out sooner, even if just by three weeks.

Or could the reason be financial...to make it harder for him to be personally served with lawsuits?

Financial troubles have further sullied Vick's image: He's being sued for more than $4 million by banks claiming he defaulted on loans and might have to repay nearly $20 million in NFL signing bonus money.

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    Michael Vick Opts to Start Prison Sentence Now | 30 comments (30 topical)

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    Jeralyn doth protesteth too much (none / 0) (#1)
    by NMvoiceofreason on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 12:08:45 AM EST
    First, time in custody counts towards the sentence.

    Second, this is a ploy towards favorable sentencing:

    http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/11/19/152925/61
    "Mike Tyson Sentenced to One Day on Coke, DUI Charge"

    Third, many states have debt discharge civil clauses, for those actually in custody....

    of course (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 12:14:55 AM EST
    the time counts, that's not the point. I don't believe it will affect the judge's decision.  And I doubt his lawyers think it will help. The timing of the holidays makes it even more curious.

    He's doing 3 weeks in a county jail -- it makes no sense unless it's to avoid service of process on civil litigation. I don't think you can discharge debts because you are in prison. I suspect at most you might be able to stop collection efforts -- but he doesn't have judgments against him for this, only lawsuits hoping for a judgment.

    Parent

    If I had (none / 0) (#26)
    by NMvoiceofreason on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 02:50:24 PM EST
    a process server who couldn't find someone in the county jail, they'd be fired so fast their head would still be spinning NEXT Tuesday.

    Parent
    It may have (none / 0) (#3)
    by Deconstructionist on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 06:48:38 AM EST
      more to do with his release date under his anticipated sentence. He meay have reason to think that if he starts early he'll be out in time to be available to play next season if reinstated.

     I doubt it has anything to do with with expecterd civil actions.  An inmate can be sued and the plaintiff can ask a court to appoint a guardian ad litem to accept service on behalf of the incompetent (incarcerated) defendant) and protect his interests if the defendant has not chosen to establish a guardianship voluntarily.

      I agree the decision is unlikely to be considered by a judge to be indicative of extraordinary rehabilitation or AOR and result in a better sentence, but it may be to his advantage career-wise.

    Michael Vick (none / 0) (#4)
    by pax on Tue Nov 20, 2007 at 06:56:37 AM EST
    According to ESPN...they