Patriots Safety Jabrill Peppers Faces Trial on Domestic Violence Allegations

Peppers is charged with assault and battery, and possession of cocaine following October incident.

QUINCY, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers is set to stand trial Wednesday on charges stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend. Peppers, 29, faces accusations of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as possession of a Class B substance believed to be cocaine, according to court documents. The trial will take place in Quincy, Massachusetts.

The charges relate to an October altercation in Braintree, Massachusetts, when police were called to a home for a reported dispute. According to authorities, Peppers is accused of pushing his girlfriend to the ground, shoving her head into a wall, and choking her six times after she received a phone call while they were in bed together. The woman reportedly declined medical treatment at a hospital and was instead treated at the home for her injuries.

When police arrived, Peppers answered the door shirtless and reportedly acknowledged the situation, telling officers, “I know what is going on.” He was arrested without incident. Police later discovered a clear plastic bag containing a white powder at the scene, which was tested and confirmed to be cocaine.

Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, has contested the allegations, stating in a previous court appearance that evidence, including videotaped footage, raises significant doubt about the accusations. He also mentioned that Peppers had agreed to avoid contact with the woman.

As a result of the incident, Peppers was placed on the NFL’s commissioner’s exempt list on October 9, which prevented him from practicing or playing with the Patriots while the league conducted its review. He was reinstated on November 25 but appeared in only two of the Patriots' last five games of the season due to injuries. Peppers was placed on injured reserve before the team’s season finale on January 5 against the Buffalo Bills.

The Patriots had signed Peppers to a contract extension during the offseason. Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, Peppers spent two years with the team before joining the New York Giants for three seasons. He is currently in his third season with the Patriots, and his contract with the team runs through 2027.

The NFL has indicated that its review of Peppers’ criminal case is ongoing, and that his roster status change did not affect the league’s investigation.

— Report contributed by Associated Press sports writer Kyle Hightower in Wrentham, Massachusetts.