Like most of America (and definitely most of SBA), we’re pretty much over this Michael Vick dogfighting case — so much so that continued blogging on the topic just seems mundane. However, if the legal system wants to keep giving us new material, we’re probably obliged to respond.

You all recall the suspended resolution of late August — Vick plead guilty to the federal indictments, and is currently hanging out, finding god, loving animals, fighting the Falcons for his signing bonus, and awaiting sentencing in December. Turns out that the yet-to-be-handed-down federal sentence may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, there was some big news about the ever-evolving Vick case today, but let’s get to the small news first. The Royal Bank of Canada is suing Michael Vick for over $2 million, in what really is an odd but revealing case.

Apparently, prior to his indictment for dogfighting and gambling, Vick borrowed $2,500,000 from RBC for “real estate investments”. Since Vick is currently suspended from the NFL and most likely on his way to at least a year at Club Fed, the bank is freaking out, claiming that Vick’s suspension from the NFL “materially affect (his) ability to repay the Term Note, and therefore constitute an event of default.” Ouch! Anyway, RBC wants their money back, and in this suit they may be ahead of the curve, since Vick’s fortune is in immediate danger of disappearing completely.

Meanwhile, the news out of the Surry County District Attorney’s office on Monday evening was not positive for Vick. Gerald Poindexter, the D.A. in question, stated that he would bring “a host of bills of indictment” against Vick on Tuesday before a grand jury.

Let’s take a look at some select quotes from Mr. Poindexter, gleaned from the AP article:

“Yes, I’m presenting matters to the grand jury that involve dogfighting at 1915 Moonlight Road.”

“Most of the matters that I’m presenting have already been admitted in sworn statements authored by the defendants in the federal proceedings.”

“The killing of dogs is one of those statutory prohibitions. Dogfighting is a crime, the mistreatment of animals is a crime, so you could take your pick, or take them all,” Poindexter said before cutting the conversation short. “I don’t have anything else to say about it. I’m through with it. Hopefully it’s coming to an end.”

So let’s break this down piece-by-piece. In copping a plea with the Feds, Vick left himself wide open to this sort of action by the county prosecutor (as well as the state prosecutor, I’d assume). It’s one thing to pursue an indictment against an individual when there’s only circumstantial evidence available. It’s another thing entirely to pursue an indictment against someone that has signed a sworn federal statement admitting to crimes committed in a particular municipality.

Dipping back into the ProFootballTalk.com Michael Vick archives (which, incidentally is, a handy set of resources), we find this little gem from the fine folks over there, regarding the potential of future prosecution by the Surry County D.A.:

If Vick admits to participating in the killing of eight dogs deemed unfit for fighting, he’s on the hook for eight counts of animal cruelty, at a maximum prison sentence of five years each… All Poindexter will need is the signed statement of facts, and it’s a one-day, one-exhibit trial.

We also have this article from August 21, talking about the likelihood of a Surry County prosecution on post-Federal charges:

Surry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerald Poindexter said Monday that he plans to pursue local charges. The next Surry County grand jury, which must review charges on new defendants, meets Sept. 25.

“I intend to prosecute to the fullest extent anything I can prosecute him on in Surry County,” Poindexter said.

So is Vick going up the river for 41 years, instead of just one? No, probably not — it would be almost inconceivable that Surry County (or the Commonwealth State of Virginia) would max out each animal cruelty charge. But they very well might. After all, there’s no wiggle room here for the judges or prosecutors involved. A federal criminal has admitted to breaking the law several times over, and in rather heinous fashion at that.

Since this is so cut-and-dried, we can count on things NOT being that way. If the county or state moves to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, how many additional columns or articles will we see from people claiming that Vick is being unfairly persecuted? After all, even in the aftermath of Vick’s guilty plea in the federal case, we were treated to a parade of F-list celebrities and talking heads prattling on about the unfairness of it all, how Vick was targeted, and how wrong it was that we put the welfare of dogs ahead of the welfare of humans…or some such garbage.

So I wonder — will we see the echoes of this pro-Vick zeal come alive again, simply because the Surry County prosecutor decides to enforce the laws on the books?