Vick trial date set

Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three co-defendants are facing a November trial date on state dogfighting charges. A Surry County Circuit judge set the trial date for November 27.

Vick and three co-defendants were indicted by a grand jury in connection to local felony charges related to dogfighting on the quarterback's property in Surry County, Virginia. The four were charged with one count of beating or killing a dog and one count of engaging in and promoting dogfighting.

Vick was not indicted on eight counts of animal cruelty.

It was in August when Vick entered a guilty plea to one federal charge relating to a dogfighting conspiracy in the state of Virginia. Sentencing for that case is set for December 10.

Vick and the co-defendants, Quanis Phillips, Tony Taylor and Purnell Peace, will be formally arraigned on the day the trial begins.

In the federal plea, the former Pro Bowl selection did not admit to killing any dogs personally or gambling on the fights. The summary of facts accompanying the plea agreement said Vick was aware four dogs were killed in 2002 and six to eight dogs were killed this past April as a result of the "collective efforts" of Vick and two of his co-defendants.

Vick is also apparently facing a litany of other problems.  The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported that Royan Bank of Canada filed a federal lawsuit against the QB because he defaulted on a $2.5 million line of credit taken out earlier this year. The newspaper reports Vick was sent a letter August 31, demanding full payment of more than $2.3 million he owed by September 10, but the lawsuit said he failed to meet that request.

The embattled quarterback also tested positive for marijuana last month, a violation of U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson's order that he stay sober in exchange for bail. After that positive test, Hudson ordered random drug testing and electronic monitoring to make sure Vick is confined to his home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell imposed an indefinite suspension on Vick following the federal plea announcement, leaving in doubt the QB's return to professional football.