The Judge in overseeing the Michael Vick case has sentenced Michael Vick’s partners and now co-defendants to more time than recommended by prosecutors in a plea deal.

Purnell Peace was sentenced to 18 months in prison, the highest end of his sentencing guideline range. Quanis Phillips, a friend of Vick’s since middle school, was sentenced to 21 months, the middle range of his guideline. United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson called what happened to the dogs “a tragedy.”

Vick cohorts’ terms longer than recommended

Judge Hudson is known for tough sentences, and he is known to be a dog lover as well.  Many people expected and still expect that Michael Vick’s co-defendants would receive a lower prison sentence than Michael Vick would.  Purnell and Phillips cooperated with prosecutors and as such prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence in exchange for their evidence and promise for testimony if the case went to trial.

Judge Hudson was not subject to the prosecutors sentencing recommendations and ended up sentencing these defendants to 6 – 9 months beyond what the prosecutor recommended.

What Might Michael Vick Face?

Many people originally estimated that Michael Vick himself might face 12 – 18 months in jail.  Such a sentence combined with good behavior, could have allowed Michael Vick to get out of prison in time to make training camp next summer.

We here at this site, even created a petition to send to Judge Hudson calling for the judge to reconsider the prosecutor’s plea deal as Vick appeared to plead guilty to lesser charges specifically so that he could return to the NFL someday, if not some day sooner.  If the Judge’s current sentence of these defendants is any guidance, it might mean that the judge could be predisposed to sentence Michael Vick in a manner that disregards the prosecutors recommendations again.

“You may have thought this was sporting, but it was very callous and cruel,” Hudson told Phillips.

Judge Hudson’s words to Phillips today during sentencing.

As this case never went to trial, it could also be possible that the Judge is looking at the evidence and assigning sentences according to the crimes committed.  If he sees that Phillips or Purnell committed more heinous acts than Vick, that could signify a lighter sentence for Vick.  If he looks at it from the perspective that Vick was the financier and ring leader, then he could hold Vick accountable in part for all the actions of his own as well as the group that he had on salary.