National Football League

Man charged with killing Peterson's son pleads not guilty of assault

Published Jul. 24, 2014 5:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

A man accused of killing the 2-year-old son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has pleaded not guilty for an alleged attack on the boy's mother.

Twenty-eight-year-old Joseph Patterson was arraigned Thursday in Sioux Falls on charges of aggravated assault and kidnapping. He's accused of attacking the mother of Tyrese Ruffin in June and holding her against her will for over an hour.

Patterson is facing second-degree murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault charges for the boy's death in October 2013. Trial on those charges is scheduled for October.