Judge: Possible Dec. 1 trial date for Adrian Peterson child abuse case
A tentative trial date for the week of Dec. 1 was set in the case of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson to answer charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child after authorities said he hit his 4-year-old son with a switch.
Peterson appeared in a Montgomery County, Texas courtroom with his attorneys, his wife and parents on Wednesday, but did not enter a plea.
Peterson, 29, faces up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted on the charges. Peterson has said he did not intend to injure the child.
That trial date is not set in stone and can be heard at an earlier date depending on the court's docket. The Montgomery County District Attorney's office said they might a file motion to recuse the judge. If so, that trial would occur in November.
The attorneys in the case agreed that Peterson is not to have any contact with the child until the case is complete.
One of Peterson’s attorneys, Rusty Hardin, said that he was hoping to get a trial as soon as possible so Peterson can resume his playing career, possibly with the trial starting the week before Thanksgiving.
"He just keeps getting hammered without the ability to respond," and is "chomping at the bit to publicly talk," Hardin said about the media reports regarding Peterson.
The running back has not played since Week 1, and was deactivated him for the team's Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints after news of the allegations were made public.
A week later, the team banned him from all team activities by placing him on the exempt/commissioner's permission list until his court case is resolved. Peterson will continue to collect his $11.75 million salary this season while he is inactive.
- Scooby Axson
