Conroe: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will avoid jail time after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors on Tuesday in the child abuse case against him.
Peterson, 29, was facing felony charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child after he was accused of whipping his four-year-old son with a tree branch.
The NFL star could have faced up to two years in prison and a $10,000 (Dh36,730) fine if he were convicted of the felony charge.
Instead, he pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of misdemeanour reckless assault and Texas judge Kelly Case said during a scheduled pre-trial hearing the deal had been approved.
Peterson was fined $4,000 and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.
“I truly regret this incident,” said Peterson outside the Montgomery County courthouse after the agreement was reached.
“I take full responsibility for my actions. I love my son more than any one of you can image.
“I am anxious to continue my relationship with my child. I am glad this over... so me and my family can move forward.”
Peterson has been on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list since he was indicted, barred from taking part in Vikings team activities but still drawing his salary.
The Vikings benched Peterson over the incident for their second game of the season against New England, but reinstated him days later only to face a backlash from fans and sponsors and even Minnesota politicians before placing him on the special exempt list until the matter could be resolved.
Peterson’s case came on the heels of the league’s much-criticised handling of Baltimore running back Ray Rice, who was belatedly suspended indefinitely by commissioner Roger Goodell after video surfaced of Rice punching his future wife in a casino elevator.
Public attention on the high profile cases has prompted the league to promise to toughen its stance on domestic violence.
