Reports: Judge terminates Adrian Peterson's probation; DA plans appeal
A Texas judge terminated the probation of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson stemming from a child assault case last year, reports ABC-13 in Houston.
According to the report, Montgomery County state District Judge Kelly Case terminated Peterson’s probation 15 months early after determining he fulfilled the requirements.
Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon told KHOU-11 that he plans on filing an appeal for the judge to reconsider the decision.
Ligon said Peterson's defense attorneys submitted a motion to terminate the probation on July 29 and Case signed off on the deal the next day, despite prosecutors never having an opportunity to object.
Peterson, 30, pleaded no contest in November to misdemeanor reckless assault after being indicted on felony child injury charges for hitting his 4-year-old son with a switch. Peterson said at the time that he took full responsibility for his actions and never meant to hurt his son.
He received two years of probation, was fined $4,000 and was ordered to complete parenting classes and to perform 80 hours of community service.
Peterson was placed on the commissioner's exempt list in September until the resolution of his legal case. The NFL then suspended Peterson without pay in November for the violating the league's personal conduct policy. He appealed the decision before being put back on the commissioner's exempt list in February.
A federal judge threw out the NFL’s denial of Peterson’s appeal, paving the way for him to be fully reinstated to the league in April.
Last month, the Vikings restricted Peterson’s contract. According to media reports, Peterson, a six-time Pro Bowler and 2012 NFL MVP, now has $20 million in guarantees, and will receive $13 million this season, $7 million in 2016, along with a $5 million roster bonus due next March.
The Vikings open the NFL’s preseason on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Minnesota’s regular season starts with a Monday night contest against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 14.
- Scooby Axson
