Adrian Peterson's son abuse case is becoming more serious but the Minnesota Vikings running back is taking things lightly as he appeared at the Wednesday morning court hearing in Conroe, Daily Mail has learned.
According to the media present at the hearing in a Texas courtroom, Peterson and his wife Ashley brown attended the hearing and both appeared to be happy and in good spirit at the time.
The two were even photographed smiling a couple of times throughout the hearing on NFL star Adrian Peterson's son abuse case.
This is notably the first time Adrian was seen relaxed and all smiles since he was being indicted on a felony child abuse charge in September.
The NFL player's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, reportedly secured an early court date - December 1 - for the child abuse case so that Adrian could play again this season.
Hardin also gushed that because of the on-going case, his client is "getting killed" in the media but he couldn't fight back outside the courtroom.
During the Wednesday hearing, the embattled player was not asked to enter a plea, but his lawyer assured that he will eventually plead not guilty to the child abuse charge.
However, if proven guilty, Peterson may say goodbye to the NFL for a while since he could end up behind bars for up to two years and a fine of $10,000.
Though Ashley Brown and Adrian Peterson had been an on-again, off-again couple since their college days, they managed to tie the knot early this year.
Despite the positive outlook of the NFL star's camp on the Adrian Peterson son abuse case, Texas prosecutor Lucy Wilke maintains that the 29-year-old athlete's means of disciplining his son for not taking out the trash was "child abuse," according to People.
"This was just excessive. This was abuse and not corporal punishment," Wilke said.
On the contrary, Peterson claimed that he didn't intend to harm his son, whom he hit nearly 20 times with a three-foot piece of looped wire.
He also justified his action as a form of discipline which he also received as a child growing up in East Texas.
Nevertheless, because an employee of NFL revealed that Peterson "smoked a little weed," Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon has sent a motion to the 9th District Court to set aside Peterson's bail of $15,000, which he posted on Sept. 12, reported CNN.
Adrian Peterson is known as one of NFL's best running backs. He signed a seven-year contract worth $100 million in 2011.
Photos obtained by TMZ show Adrian Peterson's son, Tyrese Robert Ruffin, with a number of injuries.
In the pics, the 4-year-old's leg is covered in marks and some areas even appearing with broken skin.
As per the Texas law, people can be convicted of child abuse if they cause bodily or mental injury "intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence" or cause such harm by omission.
On social media, Peterson expressed his disappointment over his fans believing the news report on his alleged child abuse.
"It's SAD how people these days will believe anything reported by media sources that don't take the time to be GREAT," he wrote to his million followers.
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