Adrian Peterson Indicted on Reckless Injury to Son

Photo Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn/USA TODAY Sports

Just when you thought this week could not get any worse, it does.  Former MVP Adrian Peterson was indicted earlier today by a Montgomery County, TX grand jury on counts of reckless and negligent injury to his four year old.  A warrant was issued for his arrest and shortly after the Minnesota Vikings deactivated the running back from Sunday’s game.

Peterson maintains that it was not abuse, just a father disciplining his son.  In the report, Peterson allegedly removed the leaves from a tree branch and repeatedly hit his four-year-old son.  Some of the cuts were so bad, the child was bleeding.

Peterson’s lawyer released the following statement on his behalf:

“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.”

Peterson’s two-year-old was killed by the child’s mother’s boyfriend.  The man allegedly responsible, Joseph Robert Patterson was charged with aggravated assault and aggravated assault on an infant.