Viking’s Adrian Peterson Pleads Guilty to Assault of Son

Minnesota Vikings NFL star running back Adrian Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault. Peterson will avoid jail time and pay a $4,000 fine and court costs. He will also have to do 80 hours of community service. Peterson will also be on probation. If he successfully completes probation, he will avoid having this on his record. He was originally charged with felony reckless or negligent injury to a child for hitting his son with a wooden tree branch. His son had visible injuries.  Peterson took responsibility and stated,   “[i] stand here and take full responsibility for my actions. I love my son more than any one of you could even imagine. I am looking forward to and I am anxious to continue my relationship with my child.” He will also have to take parenting classes. The NFL will now be looking into the case to determine whether he can continue with the football season.

In Minnesota, Peterson’s deal is called a “stay of adjudication.” A stay of adjudication is when a defendant pleads guilty to an offense but the judge does not accept the guilty plea. The conviction does not go on the defendant’s record if probation is successfully completed. If probation is completed successfully, the charges will then be dismissed.  A stay of adjudication is a VERY good outcome in a criminal case.

If you are charged with domestic assault like Adrian Peterson, or other crimes, you will need a criminal attorney in Minnesota to help you obtain a stay of adjudication in your case. A criminal attorney in Minnesota will be able to review the evidence and negotiate a deal with the prosecutor.  Max Keller is a criminal attorney in Minnesota and has obtained many stays of adjudications for his Minnesota domestic assault clients and other clients in the past. Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys offers a free consultation. Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys has two criminal attorneys licensed in Minnesota. Contact us at 952-913-1421 today.

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.
Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions:
State of Minnesota
Minnesota State Court
Minnesota Federal Court
8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals
State of Maryland”

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

Getting falsely accused of domestic violence in Minnesota may put you at risk of losing your job, custody of your children, or even your home. You may face criminal charges and the accusation may damage your reputation in the community, as people will now view you as an abuser. False domestic violence accusations often happen when couples are in a contentious relationship with a risk of divorce.
The top reasons for license suspension in Minnesota include driving under the influence of alcohol, repeated traffic violations, and failure to appear in court or pay fines. Failure to pay child support, criminal convictions and felonies, medical conditions/disabilities, and drag racing can also lead to license suspension. The suspension takes away your driving privileges, preventing you from driving legally.
Motorists arrested for allegedly driving while impaired might wonder, “Can you refuse a breathalyzer?” In Minnesota, the implied consent law requires a person licensed to drive, control, or operate a vehicle to agree to a chemical test to check for alcohol or other intoxicants in that person’s body. Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer or another chemical test is a crime, often charged as a gross misdemeanor.