New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was cleared of assault and battery charges on Friday following a jury trial in Boston. Peppers, who testified earlier in the week, denied allegations that he choked or shoved the woman accusing him. The charges stemmed from an October incident in Braintree, Massachusetts, where Peppers faced allegations of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
The accuser testified that Peppers grabbed her by the neck, slammed her against a wall, and pushed her down the stairs after an argument involving a man repeatedly calling her cellphone. She claimed Peppers mocked her, filmed her naked, and demanded she leave his house after the alleged assault. Prosecutors presented videos from the incident that they argued supported her account.
The police report aligned with the accuser’s testimony, stating that she declined to go to the hospital but was treated for injuries at the scene. During her testimony, the woman described being lifted off the floor by her neck and slammed into a wall.
Peppers, however, denied these claims, asserting that the woman was trying to tarnish his career. According to The Boston Globe, Peppers testified that he believed her actions were motivated by a $9.5 million civil lawsuit she filed against him. His attorney, Marc Brofsky, questioned the accuracy of the woman’s testimony and the severity of her injuries, suggesting financial motives behind her claims.
The incident led to Peppers being placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list on October 9, sidelining him for seven games. Despite the legal challenges, the Patriots had signed him to a contract extension over the summer, ensuring his tenure with the team through 2027.
Peppers, now in his third season with New England, was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and spent three seasons with the New York Giants before joining the Patriots. Following the not-guilty verdict, Peppers expressed relief but declined further comment on the trial.
While the case raised questions about his off-field conduct, Peppers now looks to move forward, focusing on his career and returning to the field. The Patriots have yet to release an official statement regarding the verdict.
