Latest On Adrian Peterson Child Abuse Case

Update:

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network spoke to a source regarding Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and how long he could be away from the team.

According to Rapoport’s source, Peterson be out longer than this week, depending on the info Minnesota receives regarding his child abuse case.

Peterson has already been deactivated for Week 2 and won’t be with the team today as they take on the patriots.

Rapoport adds that the Vikings are working with the NFL to gather information regarding this matter, but they have heard Peterson’s side of the story.

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Brian McCarthy, a spokesman for the league, said Saturday that Adrian Peterson’s case “will be reviewed under the NFL’s personal conduct policy,” via CBS News.

Roger Goodell mentioned that a first-time offender accused of domestic violence with face a six-week suspension and possibly a year-long bad for a second violation.

This was in a memo sent to all 32 owners after public outcry regarding Ray Rice’s two-game suspension forced Goodell to reconsider domestic abuse penalties.

It’s worth mentioning that Goodell’s memo specifically states that more severe discipline will be imposed “if there are aggravating circumstances such as the presence or use of a weapon, choking, repeated striking, or when the act is committed against a pregnant woman or in the presence of a child.”

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Adrian Peterson arrived in Houston Saturday morning and turned himself in to authorities, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

Peterson was charged with injuring a child, but posted $15,000 bond shortly afterwards and has already been released.

• Jay Glazer reports that Peterson will be released on a $21,000 bond, so there are differing figures being circulated.

ESPN’s Lester Munson mentions that Peterson is facing a felony and he could receive anywhere from probation to five years in jail, depending on what happens in the trial.

If convicted, Munson believes Peterson could serve a few months in jail. He adds that Peterson and his lawyer will try to prevent the text messages sent to the mother of his child from being used in court, but it’s more likely that the judge will consider them admissible.

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The Minnesota Vikings have issued a release which states that they have deactivated RB Adrian Peterson for Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

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According to a police report obtained by Nick Wright of CBS Houston, Adrian Peterson admitted that he “whooped” one of his children while he was visiting Peterson in Houston.

The child’s mother later took the four-year old child to a doctor once the boy returned home to Minnesota and the child admitted that Peterson had hit him with the branch of a tree.

According to the report, the doctor described some of the marks as open wounds and determined this to be “child abuse.”

The child said he was worried that Peterson would punch him in the face if he told authorities about what had happened. Peteron’s son mentioned that “there are a lot of belts in Daddy’s closet” and told his mother that Peterson even “has a whooping room.”

Peterson estimated that he has “swatted” his son “10 to 15” times, but added that he wasn’t exactly sure given that he doesn’t “ever count how many pops I give my kids.”

Peterson told investigators that this was a normal spanking and added that he didn’t see this as excessive.

“Anytime I spank my kids, I talk to them before, let them know what they did, and of course after,” Peterson said.

No charges were filed against Peterson after he testified on August 21, but decided a week later to indict him.

CBS Minnesota has photographs of the child’s injuries posted on their website if you care to see them. However, Wright adds that these photos were taken a week after the incident occurred.

The NFL has already implemented a brand new policy for domestic violence, which includes a six-game suspension for a first offenders. Wright points out that the policy allows for steeper penalties if children are involved.

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Adrian Peterson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, has released a statement:

“Adrian Peterson has been informed that he was indicted by a grand jury in Montgomery County, Texas for Injury to a Child. The charged conduct involves using a switch to spank his son. This indictment follows Adrian’s full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened. He has cooperated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours. Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury.”

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department has released a statement regarding Adrian Peterson being indicted, Albert Breer.

“An unknown police department called the City of Houston police department with a complaint of child endangerment, and Houston referred it to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office where the alleged case occurred. Montgomery County investigated a complaint of “injury to a child” and referred the case to the district attorney. The DA then handed the case to the Grand Jury.”

The Vikings have also released a statement regarding the matter:

“The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson. At this time, we will defer further questions to Adrian’s attorney Rusty Hardin.”

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Ian Rapoport reports the charges Vikings RB Adrian Peterson is facing stem from him disciplining his son with a switch.

It’s worth mentioning that a “switch” is a tree branch that has been used to discipline children.

• Rapoport adds that the investigation has been going on for some time now and Peterson testified for a grand jury weeks ago.
• According to TMZ, Child Protective Services has confirmed they are working on a case involving Peterson and an 11-year-old boy.

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Mark Berman of MyFoxHouston.com is reporting that Vikings RB Adrian Peterson has been indicted for reckless or negligent injury to a child in North Montgomery County. Texas.

• According to Berman, Peterson’s attorney, Rustin Hardin, has declined to comment on the matter.
• Jay Glazer confirms the report and adds that Peterson has been cooperating with law enforcement and will now have to turn himself in.
• Glazer adds that Peterson’s status for Week 2 remains unclear at this time as the Vikings are currently in the process of making a decision.

It’s worth mentioning that Peterson did practice on Friday, but was not in attendance on Thursday.

We’re still waiting for more details regarding the indictment, but we’ll have more updates posted as the news is available.