Adrian Peterson pleaded guilty last week to a fourth-degree DWI in Hennepin County and will avoid jail time under a plea agreement, according to court records. The case traces back to an April 25 traffic stop in Richfield that came on the heels of a Vikings draft-party event.
Plea Deal Keeps Peterson Out Of Jail
According to CBS Minnesota, Peterson admitted to one count of fourth-degree driving while intoxicated. Court filings show a 90-day jail sentence was imposed, with 85 of those days stayed for one year. He received credit for one day already served and was ordered to complete community service instead of spending any time behind bars.
As reported by KSTP, paperwork connected to the plea agreement spells out that service slightly differently, listing 32 hours to be completed within 180 days, and places Peterson on one year of probation. Those small discrepancies reflect how different filings and local outlets describe the same overall deal.
High-Speed Stop After Draft Party
The traffic stop that triggered the case happened around 3:20 a.m. on April 25, 2025, on southbound Highway 77 in Richfield after a Vikings draft-party event. A state trooper clocked Peterson at 83 mph in a 55-mph zone, and a roadside breath test registered 0.14, according to AP News. Peterson was booked and released on bond that same morning.
Other Legal Trouble Still Hanging Over Him
Peterson’s Minnesota plea does not clear his broader legal slate. In December 2024, two warrants were issued in Texas after he failed to appear in child-support proceedings, according to Voice of Alexandria. Six months after the Richfield stop, on Oct. 26, he was arrested in Sugar Land, Texas, on suspicion of DWI and unlawful carrying of a weapon. That Texas case remains open, with a hearing date noted in reporting by KSTP.
How Minnesota Handles A Fourth-Degree DWI
Under Minnesota law, a fourth-degree DWI is a misdemeanor that can bring up to 90 days in jail and fines. Judges frequently stay jail sentences for first-time offenders and instead order probation, treatment, and community service, according to the Minnesota statutes. That structure helps explain why prosecutors and defense attorneys often work out probation-first or community-service-heavy outcomes for lower-level DWI cases.
Peterson, 40, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and former NFL MVP, has been through the legal wringer before, including a 2014 case that ended with a plea agreement. This latest plea wraps up the Richfield DWI charge in Minnesota, but the Texas matter is still unresolved. Court records show he must complete his community service and probation in Minnesota and continue to show up for any future hearings in Texas.
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