QUINCY, Mass. Patriots safetyJabrill Peppersis is set to stand trial on Wednesday for allegedly choking his girlfriend repeatedly and pushing her head against a wall after she got a phone call while they were in bed.
According to court filings, Peppers, 29, is charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon and possession of a Class B narcotic that is thought to be cocaine. He is scheduled to appear in Quincy, Massachusetts, court.
According to Braintree, Massachusetts, police were summoned to a residence in October after two individuals got into a fight.According to court filings, Peppers allegedly choked the lady six times after pushing her to the ground and shoving her head against a wall.
Police said she refused to go to a hospital and was treated at the home for her injuries.
Peppers answered the door shirtless, nodding his head and telling police, I know what is going on, according to court documents. He was taken into custody without any problems. Police said they found a clear plastic bag at the home containing a white powder, which later tested positive for cocaine.
In an October court appearance, Peppers attorney, Marc Brofsky, said evidence sheds real doubt on the allegations, including videotaped evidence. He said Peppers agreed not to have contact with the woman.
After the incident, Peppers was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list on October 9 and missed seven games. This made it impossible for him to practice or play with the Patriots, but it did provide NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell the authority to put a player on paid leave while he looked into his case. Due to foot and hamstring problems, he was taken off the roster on November 25 but only made two appearances in the Patriots’ final five games of the season. Prior to the team’s January 5 season finale against the Buffalo Bills, he was placed on injured reserve.
Over the summer, the Patriots extended the contract of Peppers, a safety in his third season with the team. After spending two seasons with the Browns after being selected by Cleveland in the 2017 NFL Draft, Peppers played for the New York Giants for three seasons.
The league said previously that its review of Peppers criminal case is ongoing and was not affected by the change in Peppers roster status that allowed him to return to play. He has a deal with the Patriots that expires in 2027.