Adrian Peterson charged in child abuse case

Star Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted in Texas on a charge of child abuse after using a branch to spank his son, and was swiftly benched by the team on Friday for this weekend's game against New England.

Peterson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, released a statement Friday, saying it involves his client "using a switch to spank his son."

"Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in East Texas," Hardin said Friday. "Adrian has never hidden from what happened. He has co-operated fully with authorities and voluntarily testified before the grand jury for several hours. Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury."

Peterson turned himself in early Saturday at a jail in Montgomery County, near Houston, where he has a home. He was processed and released, according to a jail records official who declined to give her full name, citing a department policy.

The Vikings, about an hour after stating their acknowledgment of the matter, said Peterson would be on the inactive list for their home opener against the Patriots.

Peterson used a tree branch after removing the leaves to strike the child, according to Sports Radio 610 in Houston.

Peterson referred to the tree branch as "a switch" in the police report.

Peterson told police he gave his son a “whooping” in a May incident in Spring, Texas, as punishment for pushing another one of his sons, the Houston station reported. The boy sustained cuts and bruises to his back, buttocks, ankles and legs.

A warrant has been issued for Peterson's arrest, and he will have to turn himself in.

"We are just obligated to try to get it done as soon as possible, which we intend to honour," he said.

There is no timeline for when he will appear in Texas, his attorney said.​

"This indictment follows Adrian's full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son," said Hardin. "He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened.

Hardin confirmed Peterson has testified before a grand jury.

"Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning," Hardin said. "It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury."

[EMBED]

The Vikings sent out a statement shortly after news of Peterson’s indictment.

"The Vikings are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson. At this time, we will defer further questions to Adrian's attorney Rusty Hardin," the Vikings said in a statement.

Peterson returned to practice on Friday and was in the locker room following the workout with the rest of his teammates for lunch.

Acknowledging he "didn't get it right" with the initial discipline, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced tougher penalties for players accused of domestic violence, including six weeks for a first offence and at least a year for a second.

The league has also come under scrutiny in the cases of Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy and San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Ray McDonald, both still playing with domestic abuse cases pending. Hardy was convicted July 15 of assaulting a woman and communicating threats, but he is appealing. San Jose police have been continuing to actively investigate an Aug. 31 incident involving McDonald.

Goodell's memo sent to all 32 teams said more severe discipline will be imposed "if there are aggravating circumstances such as the presence or use of a weapon, choking, repeated striking, or when the act is committed against a pregnant woman or in the presence of a child." Whether the charge against Peterson would fall under that umbrella was not immediately clear.

Last October, a South Dakota man was charged on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the death of the young son of Peterson. The 29-year-old only learned he was the boy’s father two months earlier. The man charged in the murder was dating the boy’s mother.

It's the latest incident in what's been a terrible week for the NFL.

On Monday, TMZ released a second tape showing Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens striking his then-fiancee Janay Rice in a casino elevator.

Rice has since been suspended indefinitely.

Goodell has also come under heavy fire for his handling of the Rice controversy. On Wednesday the Associated Press reported that a law enforcement official said he sent the second video of Rice punching her to an NFL executive five months ago.

ESPN then reported Thursday that Rice admitted to punching Janay Rice in an Atlantic City elevator when the two met with Goodell on June 16.

Outrage ensured as Goodell originally suspending Rice only two games a month later.

The league's problems with its players and their brushes with the law were magnified in an New York Times infographic Friday.

The publication outlined on its website the number of players arrested, cited or charged with a crime from January 2000 to September 2014. Interestingly, the Vikings lead the way with 44, while the league average is 22.

[EMBED]

[EMBED]

[EMBED]