A Virginia grand jury Tuesday indicted Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three co-defendants on charges related to the dogfighting enterprise they already have admitted to operating in a federal case.

The Surry County grand jury declined to indict the Atlanta Falcons quarterback and two co-defendants on eight counts of killing or causing to be killed a companion animal, which would have exposed them to as many as 40 years in prison if convicted.  Vick already has pleaded guilty in federal court to a dogfighting conspiracy charge and is awaiting sentencing Dec. 10. Click here for more on his federal plea and the apology that followed.

The grand jury indicted him Tuesday on charges of beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting the fighting of dogs. Each count is a class 6 felony, punishable by between one and five years in prison. The grand jury met for more than three hours. The charges are the first leveled against Vick in the county where he built a home on 15 acres that was the base of the dogfighting operation.

Surry County Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Poindexter asked that the four be arraigned on Oct. 3 and requested that each be released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond. None of the defendants nor their lawyers were in court.

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