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We have an update on the Adrian Peterson indictment.

As previously reported, the star Minnesota Vikings running back was indicted this afternoon in Montgomery County on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child.

We can now confirm that the toddler Peterson is accused of abusing is his four-year old son, who was visiting him this summer and who got into an altercation with another one of Peterson’s sons over a video game.

(Peterson has at minimum five children with multiple women.)

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Through his attorney, the All-Pro says the charges stem from him using a “switch to spank his son,” admitting to this being a disciplinary technique that he’s employed and which was used on him as a child.

 

“This indictment follows Adrian’s full cooperation with authorities who have been looking into this matter. Adrian is a loving father who used his judgement as a parent to discipline his son,” the lawyer’s statement reads.

It continues, by way of explanation:

"He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in East Texas. Adrian has never hidden from what happened.

"Adrian will address the charges with the same respect and responsiveness he has brought to this inquiry from its beginning. It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury."

According to the official report, the toddler told authorities he has also been hit by a belt and that there are "a lot of belts in daddy’s closet."

Local police say Peterson admitted to them that he administered a “whooping” to the child during his visit to Peterson’s Spring, Texas residence a few months ago.

The boy suffered cuts and bruises to areas including his back, buttocks, ankles, scrotum and legs as a result of this beating; his mother took him to a doctor after the child returned home from his visit with Peterson.

TMZ has posted photos of the wounds.

The police report also lists a number of text messages sent by Peterson to the child’s mother in which he says he “felt bad” for striking his son in the testicles.

"Got him in the nuts once I noticed. But I felt so bad, n I’m all tearing that butt up when needed!" the text reads, while a follow-up added:

"Never do I go overboard! But all my kids will know, hey daddy has he biggest heart but don’t play no games when it comes to acting right."

The Vikings have deactivated Peterson for their game against the Patriots on Sunday.