Disgraced football star Michael Vick will spend Thanksgiving behind bars.

Vick, facing a maximum five-year prison sentence next month on federal dog-fighting charges, voluntary turned himself in to authorities Monday. He is being held at the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Va.

“From the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance,” Billy Martin, Vick’s lead lawyer, said in a prepared statement. “Michael wants to again apologize to everyone who has been hurt in this matter, and he thanks all of the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time.”

According to an order filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Vick was taken into custody “based solely on his desire to begin his period of incarceration prior to his sentencing hearing,” not because he violated any terms of his release.

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Prosecutors have recommended Vick spend between 12 and 18 months behind bars. Judge Henry Hudson will decide the former quarterback’s sentence Dec. 10. Vick pleaded guilty to running a dogfighting operation, including brutally killing underperforming animals, at his property in Surry County. Three co-defendants also pleaded guilty.

Though his move is unusual, Vick is not the first celebrity to begin incarceration early. Martha Stewart, the home-and-garden guru, began her five-month prison sentence in 2004 while she still had appeals pending.

“My guess is that Vick is trying to position himself to look better at sentencing by showing a true acceptance of responsibility,” said Jules Epstein, an associate professor at Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Del. “It may also have something to do with the risk of state prosecution, or it could just be an extremely mature decision.”

Vick’s decision will not necessarily help him Dec. 10. Hudson has a reputation among lawyers for handing down harsh sentences.

“It is hard to project whether or not that will be a mitigating factor at the time of sentencing,” said John F. Brady, who teaches bar examination-review courses nationwide.

Vick also faces two dogfighting charges in Surry County, which each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. South Carolina authorities are also investigating him and his co-defendants. South Carolina is investigating whether Vick transported dogs to the state for the purpose of dog fighting.

jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com