Adrian Peterson
Minnesota Vikings running back, Adrian Peterson, shown here on the sidelines of a game last year, is accused of abusing two separate children that the fathered in Spring, Texas where he lives. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings announced on Monday that deactivated running back, Adrian Peterson, who currently faces child abuse charges in Texas for beating his own son with a “switch,” was reinstated and would take the field on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Peterson was on the practice field, but did not take any questions from the media.

The child abuse saga continued as after practice ended, Peterson released a statement via his Twitter account which can be read in its entirety below. In his statement Peterson discusses, without releasing facts, what happened to his four year old son earlier this year:

“I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen,” he said in his statement. “I know that many people disagree with the way I disciplined my child. I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband, I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser.”

Unfortunately for Peterson the evidence points to the contrary as within hours of Peterson releasing his statement, KHOU-TV out of Houston, Texas reported a new, second allegation of child abuse against Peterson; this time, with a different son, from a different mother. The station released photos and text messages of an incident that also occurred in Spring, Texas where Peterson lives in June of 2013.

According to the report, Peterson caused a large cut above his son’s right eye for cursing at one of his siblings. Peterson gave his son a “whooping”, and later texted the boy’s mother, letting her know what happened. In the picture sent to the mother, you can see large bandages above the boy’s right eye. According to the mother, the child now has a very large scar there.

The news got worse for Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings as the Radisson Hotels, a sponsor with the team for many years which operates out of Minneapolis, announced that they will be suspending their sponsorship because of the pending charges of child abuse against Peterson.

If you were unaware, Peterson is charged with injuring his four year old son in May of this year after the child shoved another child off of a ride. Peterson allegedly grabbed a branch off of a tree (which can be seen in the photos), and took the leaves off, according to the child, Peterson put the leaves in the boy’s mouth and made him pull his pants down. He then repeatedly hit the child with the branch, known as a “switch”, as many as 10-15 times. Peterson hit the boy so hard that cuts formed over the boy’s thighs, buttocks, legs and according to a doctor who checked the boy a few days later, he was hit in the scrotum as well, possibly with an electrical cord.

A grand jury in Montgomery County, TX indicted Peterson last Thursday with charges of child abuse and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Peterson was deactivated from the Vikings team and flew to Houston where he turned himself in to authorities. He was booked for the charges, and even smiled for his mug shot, before paying a $15,000 bail fee.

If convicted, Peterson faces up to two years in jail, and a maximum fine of $10,000. He is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday, but according to reports out of Montgomery County, that hearing is been pushed back because Peterson’s attorney is out of the country.

In addition to fines and jail time, Peterson could face further punishment by the NFL and their personal-conduct policy. The league is currently in a hail storm of their own for mishandling the initial penalty for now suspended running back, Ray Rice after violently knocking his wife unconscious in a hotel elevator in Atlantic City. Commissioner Roger Goodell, suspended Rice indefinitely after TMZ released a video tape of what happened inside the elevator, and went on record to say he had never seen the tape before despite recent claims to the contrary.

The photos of both of Peterson’s sons who are victims in the child abuse charges can be seen below. We warn you the photos are disturbing.

Adrian-Peterson-Switch-10
A photo of Adrian Peterson grabbing a tree branch that he allegedly used to injure his four year old son. Houtson Police Department
Adrian-Peterson-Switch-9
The "switch" in question as well as the leaves that were reportedly placed inside the boy's mouth. Houtson Police Department
adrian-peterson-indicted-child-abuse-the-jasmine-brand-500x335
Injuries to Adrian Peterson's son. Houtson Police Department
Adrian-Peterson-Son-Switch
Injuries to Adrian Peterson's son. Houtson Police Department
Adrian-Peterson-Switch-1
Injuries to Adrian Peterson's son. Houtson Police Department
Adrian-Peterson-Switch-2
Injuries to Adrian Peterson's son. Houtson Police Department
Adrian-Peterson-Switch-3
Injuries to Adrian Peterson's son. Houtson Police Department
Adrian-Peterson-Switch-5
Injuries to Adrian Peterson's son. Houtson Police Department
Adrian-Peterson-Switch-7
Injuries to Adrian Peterson's son. Houtson Police Department
Adrian-Peterson-Switch-8
Injuries to Adrian Peterson's son. Houtson Police Department

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.