Joseph Robert Patterson, Accused of Beating Peterson’s Child, Charged Previously

Joseph Robert Patterson, the man accused of beating the 2-year-old child Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, was previously charged with assaulting a 3-year-old boy last year, according to a report.
Joseph Robert Patterson, Accused of Beating Peterson’s Child, Charged Previously
Jack Phillips
10/11/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

Joseph Robert Patterson, the man accused of beating the 2-year-old child of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, was previously charged with assaulting a 3-year-old boy last year, according to a report.

The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, S.D., where Patterson is from, reported that he was charged with several counts of simple assault involving a woman and her 3-year-old son in June 2012.

Patterson, 27, was charged this week with felony assault and assault on an infant for allegedly beating and choking the 2-year-old son of Peterson. The boy was confirmed dead on Friday, said reports. Peterson’s son was in the care of Patterson when the incident took place.

Lincoln County State’s Attorney Tom Wollman on Friday asked a judge to revoke a suspended sentence regarding Patterson’s two domestic abuse cases.

After Patterson was indicted on several counts for last year’s incident, the woman took out a protection order against him. The woman said he spanked the child so hard that the child had welts on his buttocks and needed an icepack.

He then ordered the other children to go to their rooms and grabbed the woman by the throat.

“He has threaten (sic) to kill me multiple times,” the woman said, according to the paper.

Kekoland TV reported that Patterson has been arrested several times on several counts. He was arrested in 2004 for violating a protection order--which was dropped, he also was charged with assault in 2012, and he was charged in 2010 with eluding officers.

On Friday, Peterson issued a statement about the matter regarding his 2-year-old son.

“I really appreciate all the support that I’ve been receiving from fans, the Vikings organization,” he said. “This is a private matter and I would ask you all to please just respect my privacy and not ask at all about the situation at hand. Thanks,” according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Peterson’s father, Nelson Peterson, confirmed with the Pioneer-Press that the 2-year-old son belonged to the Vikings running back.

“All I can say is, we are asking for prayers and for respect for our family as we deal with this tragic situation,” he told the paper.

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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