MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX. – Adrian Peterson is expected to enter a plea of not guilty Wednesday morning in a Texas courtroom on charges he abused one of his children.
The grand jury indicted Peterson last month after allegations he beat one of his sons with a stick.
"In Texas, you have the right to discipline by using corporal punishment, both in schools and by parents, but it's a question of degree," said Professor Gerald Treece with South Texas College of Law.
Treece doesn't believe this will get to a jury trial because this is Peterson's first offense and Texans are more sympathetic to corporal punishment.
"Very common to use such switches, paddles, and so forth. Now this is an extreme case," he said.
The grand jury did believe Peterson crossed the line, and indicted the Vikings running back.
Peterson is accused of using a switch, which is essentially a stripped-down tree branch.
"This is not intentional child abuse, this is negligent injury to a child. Which under Texas law, maximum punishment is two years," he said. "This is a recipe for a plea bargain which I totally expect to happen."
Peterson is expected in court at 9 a.m. Wednesday about 45 minutes north of Houston.
