04/24/24
September 12, 2014
Vikings' Adrian Peterson Indicted for Child Injury: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been indicted on charges of child injury in Texas for "reckless or negligent injury to a child." The team is keeping him out of Sunday's game. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that Peterson has been cooperating with investigators. The charges involve Peterson using a switch to whip his four-year-old child as punishment and leaving lacerations and bruises on his thighs, lower back and buttocks. The sports blog Deadspin gathers press reports with more details, including a text message reportedly from Peterson to the child's mother in which he wrote, "Never do I go overboard! But all my kids will know, hey daddy has the biggie heart but don't play no games when it comes to acting right."
Adrian Peterson Indicted on Child Injury Charge
From the pictures of the injuries, the admission that Peterson used a "switch", the age of the child (4), and that some of the injuries were to the face, it would appear this has all the makings of a child abuse charge. So if hitting our wife/girlfriend, presumably an adult but maybe not always, gets you some indeterminate suspension from a couple of games to a full season how long should this sort of thing merit? At least the team had the decency to disqualify him for Sunday's game.
...and the New England run defense just got a lot better.
posted by Howard_T at 09:03 PM on September 12, 2014
We don't know all the details yet, but I'll bet the public take on this ends up with as much praise for Peterson as criticism. And we're going to hear from a lot of people whose dads took the paddle, switch or belt to them.
But I drafted Peterson with the fourth pick in a way-too-serious fantasy league. So you can guess why I might be looking for reasons to believe this is minor.
posted by rcade at 09:51 PM on September 12, 2014
I have Facebook integration disconnected on my normal computers, but you can't do that on iOS devices which means I made the mistake of looking at the comments in the thread at ESPN. Much as rcade predicted, a lot of comments about the wussification of America. Not that I'm a better person: my first thought was it's sad the MVP of the Patriots 2014 season so far is a tree branch.
posted by yerfatma at 02:56 PM on September 14, 2014
Basically never mind. Deleted this comment because I read a key element of the story wrong. I thought he'd beaten somebody else's kid.
posted by Joey Michaels at 06:02 PM on September 14, 2014
This did give a Twin Cities woman her chance to audition for Worst Person in the World.
posted by cobra! at 10:46 AM on September 15, 2014
Annnnnnnnnd......he's back.
posted by tommybiden at 12:35 PM on September 15, 2014
Earlier today I saw Peterson's explanation/apology for the situation. I was willing to accept that. It sounded like a man who was unaware of the seriousness of his actions and did not realize his mistake. Once it had been brought to his attention, he seemed contrite and willing to learn from the experience.
Fast forward an hour or two, and all of a sudden comes an allegation that Peterson had also whipped (or switched, or whatever) another of his sons. Now I'm not so sure of the honesty of his earlier statement. His lawyer denies that there is any truth to the story of previous corporal punishment of his other son. The lawyer's name is Rusty Hardin. Doesn't that name sound familiar? I don't know about you, but when you get a heavy hitter like Roger Clemens' old mouthpiece, you are loading up for something.
posted by Howard_T at 11:58 PM on September 15, 2014
The lawyer's name is Rusty Hardin. Doesn't that name sound familiar? I don't know about you, but when you get a heavy hitter like Roger Clemens' old mouthpiece, you are loading up for something.
Or, you want a lawyer who knows how to defend his client against (according to the client) spurious charges. I remember how everyone was sure Clemens was going to get nailed for perjury, but walked out of court without a scratch.
That's the kind of lawyer you'd want, and I don't blame Peterson (ignoring the charges against him) for going after the best counsel possible.
posted by grum@work at 08:22 AM on September 16, 2014
The second shoe dropping is not a good sign for Peterson. Given the new climate where the league has to prove extra double good that it cares about domestic violence, I think Goodell will likely drop the hammer on him.
posted by rcade at 11:15 AM on September 16, 2014
The Vikings have lost a sponsor. Peterson has now officially damaged the NFL's bank accounts. He's toast.
posted by Etrigan at 01:41 PM on September 16, 2014
I was under the impression domestic corporal punishment is still legal in the US. I understand there's a line where it crosses into child abuse, but where is it drawn? And how do we know whether it was crossed in this case?
I am not playing devil's advocate here, I just don't think I understand the facts well enough.
posted by Ricardo at 04:15 PM on September 16, 2014
Texas Attorney General page on Child Abuse
The law specifically excludes "reasonable" discipline by the child's parent, guardian, or conservator; corporal punishment is not in itself abusive under the law. An act or omission is abusive only if "observable and material impairment" occurs as a result, or if it causes "substantial harm," or exposes the child to risk of substantial harm.
posted by Etrigan at 06:03 PM on September 16, 2014
After seeing some pictures of the marks left, I'd say it's more than any 4 year old should receive.
posted by Ricardo at 10:40 PM on September 16, 2014
I don't see how the injuries rise to the level of being a criminal offense, given that corporal punishment by parents and schools is still widespread in this country. In schools, in the last year of data available, 223,190 students were paddled.
It seems capricious that Peterson is being punished for this, absent more evidence that the media has not yet brought to light.
(Note: Regardless of how common it is, I'd be happy to see this practice fade into the past.)
posted by rcade at 10:54 AM on September 17, 2014
It seems capricious that Peterson is being punished for this, absent more evidence that the media has not yet brought to light.
Try as you might, I don't think Peterson is going to score you any points in this week's fantasy games. ;)
I don't see how the injuries rise to the level of being a criminal offense, given that corporal punishment by parents and schools is still widespread in this country. In schools, in the last year of data available, 223,190 students were paddled.
From the quick look I saw of the photos on the news, it seemed to indicate that the skin was broken, bleeding may have occurred, and there may be scarring after the fact. I think that's too much.
posted by grum@work at 01:30 PM on September 17, 2014
/looks at the photos, immediately regrets it.
I don't understand, man. The kid is just four years old. What exactly was Peterson trying to get his kid to learn by doing this to him? Other than being scared shitless of his old man, that is.
Now Reggie Bush is saying this:
"I discipline her. Obviously every person is different, and I definitely will use my best judgement to discipline her depending on the situation. I definitely will obviously not leave bruises or anything like that on her. But I definitely will discipline her, harshly, depending on what the situation is."
His daughter is one. But hey, he tries really, really hard to not leave bruises on her.
posted by NoMich at 02:08 PM on September 17, 2014
What exactly was Peterson trying to get his kid to learn by doing this to him?
From a story: "Peterson's son had pushed another one of Peterson's children off of a motorbike video game."
I don't believe in corporal punishment. Didn't like it as a kid, don't do it as an adult. But do you think it is unusual for a dad to give a four-year-old a spanking because he was physically violent with another kid?
posted by rcade at 03:04 PM on September 17, 2014
I think it's a bit quirky to hit any other human being hard enough with a switch that it bends around their limbs and cuts them elsewhere, at least absent a safety word and leather boots.
posted by yerfatma at 03:26 PM on September 17, 2014
But do you think it is unusual for a dad to give a four-year-old a spanking because he was physically violent with another kid?
I'm not a believer in using violence to teach a toddler to not be violent, and I don't think a mere spanking will lacerate someone. Unless Mr. Peterson has razor fingers. He doesn't, does he? That's frightening. Fucking Freddie Kreuger over here.
posted by NoMich at 03:54 PM on September 17, 2014
An Andrew Sullivan reader offers a psychologist's take on why harsh corporal punishment on a young child is such a bad idea.
The short answer is that when the developing brain endures prolonged "fear states," a person is more likely to be violent as an adult.
I'm probably wrong, but this observation makes me wonder if NFL football players are more likely to have endured corporal punishment and thus more capable of playing an extremely violent sport at its highest level.
posted by rcade at 10:12 AM on September 19, 2014
Adrian Peterson Indicted on Child Injury Charge