Former Vikings trial set for child abuse charge

Former Viking Darrion Scott appears in court on child abuse charges. Scott's trial is set for July 7.

By Rochelle A. Olson, Star Tribune

Last update: May 17, 2008 - 12:40 AM

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Darrion Scott's trial has been set for July 7 in Hennepin County District Court.

Scott appeared in court Friday for just a few minutes before Hennepin County District Court Judge Beryl Nord. He did not speak in court and remains free on $50,000 bond.

Scott is accused of assaulting his 2-year-old son last month by holding a plastic dry cleaning bag over the kicking and crying boy's head in his Eden Prairie townhome. According to the criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court: The boy's mother heard the child's muffled cries and found Scott, who is 6-3 and 290 pounds, holding the bag over the boy's head. She said the boy was on his back on the floor, his legs kicking and that Scott was holding the bag tightly around the boy's neck.

Scott is accused of two felonies: third-degree assault and domestic assault by strangulation. He also has been charged with child endangerment, a gross misdemeanor.

He has not entered a plea and his defense lawyers Joe Friedberg and Bruce Rivers declined to talk about their version of events after the brief court session.

A native of Charleston, W.Va., Scott was a third-round pick in the 2004 draft out of Ohio State. He played in 48 games with the Vikings. He is a free agent and led the team in sacks in 2006.

Nord also asked about two charges of driving without a license that Scott faces. Friedberg said he was in jail on the current charges when he was to appear on those charges.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747

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