PETA members protest at courthouse

SUSSEX, Va. - Members of an animal rights group are protesting outside the courthouse where former NFL star Michael Vick is expected to plead guilty to state dogfighting charges.

Nine protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals held signs this morning with photographs of bloodied fighting dogs and others that read "Dogfighters repent".

Vick arrived at the courthouse in Sussex about 6:40 a.m, more than two hours before his scheduled appearance.

A plea agreement between Vick's legal team and Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter calls for the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback to receive a suspended sentence and one year of probation.

He already is serving a 23-month sentence for a federal dogfighting conviction.