Minnesota Vikings
running back Adrian Peterson agreed to a plea bargain Tuesday, reducing
his felony child-abuse charges to a single charge of reckless assault, a
misdemeanor that comes with a $4,000 fine and an order to perform
community service.
Peterson,
29, appeared in court in Conroe, Tex., and pleaded no contest to the
reduced charge in front of Judge Kelly W. Case, who accepted the plea.
Peterson was accompanied by his lawyer, Rusty Hardin, and the hearing
was finished in a matter of minutes.
The plea ended a case that stemmed from Peterson’s being accused of disciplining his 4-year-old son with a switch
in May at his home in Spring, Tex. He was initially charged with one
count of reckless or negligent injury to a child, a felony. The
reckless-assault charge made no mention of a child’s involvement.
The trial on the initial charge had been set for Dec. 1, and few expected any result that would allow Peterson to return to the Vikings
this season. Now the N.F.L. must decide if it plans on further
punishment than the eight games Peterson has missed, albeit with pay,
while he remained on the commissioner’s exempt list.
The
Vikings initially were going to allow Peterson to play after he was
indicted on Sept. 11, but they reversed course after a loud public
backlash.
The team, which has a bye this week, has not yet commented on Peterson’s status or whether he will return this season.
EX-GIANT FACES CHARGES
The former Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Luke Petitgout was
charged Tuesday with assault and sexual assault in New Jersey.
The
charges were filed in Pascack Joint Municipal Court. Prosecutors did
not immediately respond to an email seeking details about the charges.
Petitgout
was being held, with bail set at $50,000, in the Bergen County jail.
His lawyer, Patrick J. Jennings, said he expected Petitgout to be
released soon.
Petitgout
had a misdemeanor harassment case against him dropped in New York last
year after his wife accused him of hitting her. (AP)
POLAMALU OUT Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will miss Sunday’s game against the Jets with a sprained right knee. (AP)
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