New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers was found not guilty on three domestic violence charges Friday after a brief two-day trial.
Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers testifies that he didn’t choke or shove his accuser
Jurors deliberated for around an hour before turning in non-guilty verdicts for assault and battery with dangerous weapon, assault and batter and strangulation charges Friday afternoon.
“I usually say my client was found not guilty, but in this case, I will say he was found innocent, given the state of the evidence, given how quickly the jury returned their verdict,” says Marc Brofsky, criminal defense attorney for Peppers.
According to Peppers, “I trusted the process. You know, Marc did a phenomenal job at pointing out all of the inconsistencies in the story. Keeping the trial about the facts.”
He adds that this case hurt his reputation and although the outcome was in his favor, “the truth is never as loud as the accusation,” he explains.
Although Peppers’ accuser didn’t want to speak on camera after the trial concluded, she told reporters that she explained her side of the story, and she knows her truth.
The charges stem from an incident in the Patriot safety’s home this past October. A woman testified Thursday that Peppers grabbed her by the neck, slammed her against the wall and pushed her down the stairs after another man called her cellphone several times while they were in bed. Peppers took the stand on both days of the trial.
Prosecutors showed several videos of the incident, in which Peppers can be seen asking the naked woman to repeatedly leave his house in Braintree, Massachusetts. The woman said Peppers was filming her and taunting her, as she tried to get her belongings and depart after the alleged assault.
In the early morning after the alleged assault, Peppers answered the door shirtless, nodding his head and telling police, “I know what is going on,” according to court documents. He was arrested without incident. Police said they found a clear plastic bag at the home containing a white powder, which later tested positive for cocaine.
New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers looks over photographic evidence as he testifies in his assault and battery trial trial under cross examination from his attorney Marc Brofsky, left, Friday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Quincy, Mass. (David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)
During cross-examination on Thursday, Marc Brofsky, the attorney for Peppers, challenged the woman’s account and the extent of her injuries. He also noted the $9.5 million civil lawsuit the woman has filed against Peppers, alleging she was “looking for money.”
On Thursday, Peppers admitted to cocaine possession ahead of the domestic violence trial.
“The jury heard the evidence and rendered its verdict. We respect the jury’s decision and thank them for their service to the Commonwealth,” the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office said in a statement.
Peppers missed seven games since being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list on Oct. 9 following the incident.
The Patriots signed Peppers to an extension over the summer. Peppers was originally drafted by Cleveland in 2017 and spent two seasons with the Cleveland Browns before playing for the New York Giants for three seasons. His current contract with the Patriots runs through 2027.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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