After reaching an agreement with prosecutors, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will face no jail time in connection with charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child, after admitting that he punished his 4-year-old with a small tree branch or “switch.”
Entering a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault, the agreement allows him to remain free and avoid the original charges of felony child abuse which could have sent him to prison for two years. Montgomery County state District Judge Kelly Case has also mandated that he complete 80 hours of community service and pay a $4,000 fine.
Said Peterson after the deal was announced, “I’m just glad this is over. I can put this behind me and me and my family can move forward.”
Since the case initially broke in September, he has been “deactivated indefinitely” and placed upon the Exempt/Commissioner’s Permission list, which has made him ineligible to participate in team activities during the duration of this case. The NFL now has the option to reinstate Peterson and order additional fines or add more time to his suspension, though no decision has been made as of yet.