Joseph Patterson was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Thursday for his role in the October 2013 death of two-year-old Tyrese Ruffin, the son of Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Megan Raposa of the Argus Leader reported the news, adding Patterson will also serve a concurrent 25-year sentence for aggravated battery charges. A South Dakota jury found Patterson guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and aggravated battery in September.
Patterson maintained his innocence in addressing the courtroom Thursday, saying, per Raposa, "This is probably where people expect a guilty person to turn around and ask for forgiveness.