Adrian Peterson avoids jail with no contest plea to child abuse charge

Minnesota Vikings’ star running back Adrian Peterson has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault on charges of child abuse in an agreement with Texas prosecutors that will allow him to avoid jail.

The Montgomery County district attorney originally brought felony charges against the running back in September after he allegedly disciplined his 4-year-old son by hitting him with a wooden switch at the player’s suburban Houston home. The boy allegedly had bruises and cuts on his buttocks, legs, back, hands and scrotum as a result of the incident.

To avoid jail, Peterson will pay a $4,000 fine, serve two years of probation and perform 80 hours of community service. If convicted of the original felony charge of injury to a child, Peterson could have faced two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. A judge in Conroe, Texas, approved the agreement on Tuesday.

ESPN reports that the plea “will not include any references to family violence or violence against a minor”. The court clerk did not immediately have plea agreement documents available.

A lawyer in his attorney’s firm, Rusty Hardin & Associates, said the firm did not plan to comment on the agreement.

Peterson has not played since the allegations came to light in September and has missed eight games this season. Neither the NFL nor the Minnesota Vikings have said when Peterson might return to the team.

League spokesperson Greg Aiello said the NFL would “review the matter and make a determination” on when Peterson might return. The league does not currently have a timetable for Peterson’s return, Aiello said. The Vikings did not acknowledge requests for comment.

Peterson was previously scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for a bond revocation hearing. He admitted to smoking marijuana while waiting for his court appearance, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.