Mass. – A significant disruption has occurred in the legal proceedings of New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, as a water main break has postponed his trial that was originally scheduled for Wednesday. The trial pertains to allegations of Peppers shoving his girlfriend’s head into a wall and repeatedly choking her after she received a phone call while they were in bed together.
Peppers, 29, is facing serious charges. According to court documents, he is charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class B substance, which is believed to be cocaine. The clerk’s office announced on Wednesday morning that due to the water main break, the court in Quincy, Massachusetts, where he was set to appear, was closed. As a result, Peppers’ case has been rescheduled for Thursday.
The incident that led to these charges dates back to October when Braintree, Massachusetts, police were called to a home following an altercation between two people. Court documents allege that Peppers pushed the woman to the ground, shoved her head into a wall, and choked her six times. The woman refused to go to a hospital and was treated for her injuries at the home. When police arrived, Peppers, who answered the door shirtless, allegedly nodded his head and told them, “I know what is going on.” He was arrested without any further incident. Additionally, police reported finding a clear plastic bag containing a white powder at the home, which later tested positive for cocaine.
At an October court appearance, Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, presented a defense, stating that evidence, including videotaped evidence, “sheds real doubt on the allegations.” Brofsky also mentioned that Peppers had agreed not to have contact with the woman. Since the incident on October 9, Peppers has faced a series of consequences in his football career. He was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list, which prevented him from practicing or playing with the Patriots but allowed him to be on paid leave while NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reviewed his case. He was removed from the list on November 25 but due to foot and hamstring injuries, he only appeared in two of the Patriots’ final five games this season. He was ultimately placed on injured reserve before the team’s season – finale against the Buffalo Bills on January 5.
The Patriots had signed Peppers, who is in his third season with the team, to an extension over the summer. Originally drafted by Cleveland in 2017, Peppers spent two seasons with the Browns and three seasons with the New York Giants before joining the Patriots. The NFL has previously stated that its review of Peppers’ criminal case is ongoing and is not affected by the change in his roster status that allowed him to return to play. His current contract with the Patriots runs through 2027, and as his legal situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will impact both his personal and professional life in the long – term.
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