|
 Peterson, 29, was indicted in September by a grand jury on a
charge of causing reckless or negligent injury to a child, one of
several domestic violence or abuse cases to damage the reputation of
the National Football League in 2014.
Peterson has admitted using a switch, the thin end of a tree branch,
to discipline his 4-year-old son, but said he was not trying to
injure him and that his actions reflected the types of discipline he
received growing up.
He is scheduled to appear in a Montgomery County court north of
Houston on Wednesday morning for his first hearing on the charge.
The discipline left visible marks on the boy.
 A spokeswoman for Peterson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said the NFL
player would plead not guilty, if asked, by the judge during the
court appearance.
It is unclear whether Peterson will be asked to enter a plea or
whether a trial date will be set. He was detained briefly after the
indictment in September and released on bond.
Peterson could be sentenced to up to two years in prison and fined
$10,000 if convicted of the felony charge.
Peterson, the NFL's most valuable player in 2012, sat out one game
for the Vikings and was reinstated briefly, drawing widespread
criticism. The team then put him on indefinite paid leave.
[to top of second column] |
The charge against Peterson followed by days the emergence of a
video in which another prominent running back, Ray Rice, could be
seen knocking out his future wife in early 2014.
Rice had been suspended two games for the incident involving his
then-fiancee, but was released by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended
indefinitely by the NFL after the video circulated.
(Reporting by Amanda Orr in Houston; Writing by David Bailey;
Editing by Peter Cooney)
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