Prosecutors seek to rearrest Peterson for smoking marijuana

Sidelined superstar Adrian Peterson's admission that he smoked "a little weed" led Texas prosecutors to file a motion Thursday seeking to revoke his bond and have him jailed.

The Minnesota Vikings running back acknowledged smoking marijuana to a Montgomery County, Texas, employee as he was about to provide a urine sample Wednesday, the prosecutors contend. The exchange occurred after Peterson's first appearance in front of Judge Kelly Case on a felony child abuse charge.

The judge generally requires defendants to take drug tests the first time he sees them in court. Peterson has been required to refrain from drug and alcohol use as a condition of his $15,000 bond.

The two-page motion by the prosecutors didn't say whether the results of Peterson's urine test are known, nor did it put a time frame on when Peterson smoked marijuana. Evidence of its usage can stay in a person's system for weeks.

The high-profile case already has been rife with surprises, but indications are that the latest motion won't lead to an imminent arrest and jailing of Peterson.

Case lifted a travel ban during a brief court session Wednesday, and Peterson remained free Thursday.

County Attorney Brett Ligon on Wednesday filed a motion to remove Case from presiding over Peterson's trial. He told the judge he should apologize and remove himself from the case for referring to both Ligon and defense attorney Rusty Hardin each as a "media whore." Case has apologized but declined to step aside.

Before the motion to revoke Peterson's bond can be heard, another judge must decide whether Case will preside at the trial. No date has been set for that hearing.

Neither Hardin nor Ligon's office would comment Thursday.

Hardin has previously said his client wants to go to trial as quickly as possible to try to clear his name and get back on the football field. Judge Case mentioned a possible Dec. 1 starting date.

Uncertain future

Peterson, 29, is an East Texas native and has spent most of his time at his home near Houston since his indictment became public Sept. 12. He appeared in court Wednesday but didn't speak or enter a plea.

He has admitting whipping his 4-year-old son with a switch in May while the Minnesota boy was visiting him in Texas.

The boy's wounds were still visible days later when his mom took him to a regularly scheduled doctor's visit.

Peterson maintains he wasn't trying to harm his child, but was disciplining him in the same manner he experienced as a boy. He has credited his own success in part to the stern corporal punishment he received as a child.

His football season now depends on his criminal case. Peterson is on the NFL commissioner's exempt list, meaning he can't play but still earns his $11.75 million salary.

The NFL has a substance abuse policy, but there's never been any indication that Peterson was in violation of that policy or being treated for abuse.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747

@rochelleolson