MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Houston Defense Attorney Chris Downey believes there is only one play for Adrian Peterson to make Wednesday — plead not guilty to felony child abuse charges and ask for a trial as soon as possible.
“This is a very standard step one in a Texas courtroom,” Downey said. “I would be surprised if it would be in Adrian Peterson’s best interest, given what’s going on in the NFL for this matter to drag out as long as a typical case would.”
It’s a case that Downey says will be viewed differently in Conroe, Texas, located 40 miles from Houston — with a divide on corporal punishment that Downey says spans a greater distance.
“These issues of child discipline vary greatly from metropolitan areas to rural areas,” he said.
But three weeks ago, a grand jury in Montgomery County decided the open cuts and bruises on Peterson’s 4-year-old son from a switch were not “reasonable punishment.”
Through his attorney, Peterson said he regrets the “unintentional injury.”
But in interviews with police, Peterson’s son said it had happened before, and prosecutors will pay close attention to this language.
“To the extent that there might be any record that Adrian Peterson committed similar acts in the past and maybe got in trouble for it if he did, then that can play a very big role in this case,” Downey said.
Prosecutors have said a trial could be a year away, so it will be up to the judge to decide if he will move up the trial date.
Peterson remains on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list, meaning he’s barred from team activities but is still collecting a pay check.
The charges carry two years in a state jail and a $10,000 fine.
But Downey believes Peterson will likely get probation if he’s convicted because he’s a first-time offender.
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