Prosecutor: AP Crossed the Line

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas prosecutor says a grand jury backed a child abuse charge against Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson after it spent several weeks reviewing "lots of evidence."

Montgomery County prosecutor Phil Grant said Saturday that parents are entitled to discipline their children, but that grand jury members felt Peterson went too far after they looked at the child's injuries.

Peterson is charged with causing injury to a child for allegedly spanking one of his sons with a wooden switch on or around May 18th. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to two years in prison and fined up to $10,000.

Peterson was booked and released from a Houston-area jail earlier Saturday. The Vikings benched him for this weekend's home opener against the New England Patriots.

Steve Eudey, who coached Peterson as a young boy in Palestine, Texas, and has remained a family friend, said he has heard stories from Peterson about his father Nelson "being a firm disciplinarian."

"Some of the things his dad did to him was to make him tough," Eudey told The Associated Press.

Eudey said he had yet to speak to Peterson since his arrest, but said his actions were consistent with the type of upbringing he had.

"I will go to my grave defending Adrian, but at the same time you can't harm a child, either," Eudey said. "I know that was never his intent."

Corporal punishment is legal in Texas, and the law spells out that non-deadly force against a child by a parent or guardian is permissible.  But the punishment is abusive if it causes injury. While a blow that causes a red mark that fades in an hour is not likely to be judged abusive, a blow that leaves a bruise, welt, or swelling, or requires medical attention, could be judged abusive. The child's injuries will likely be under scrutiny as the case proceeds.

The guidelines also say while spanking with the bare, open hand is least likely to be abusive, use of an instrument "is cause for concern."