BRAINTREE, MA – Jabrill Peppers, the safety and team captain for the New England Patriots, entered a not guilty plea on Monday regarding charges of assault and drug possession following his arrest over the weekend in Braintree, Massachusetts. The Braintree Police Department made an announcement about Peppers’ arrest on Monday, just prior to his arraignment at Quincy District Court.
According to police reports, officers were dispatched to the scene of a dispute involving two individuals around 4 a.m. on Saturday. Court documents reveal that a woman alleged Peppers physically assaulted her, claiming he choked her multiple times, stripped her of her clothing, and forcibly put her outside. She stated that despite being choked at least six times, she did not lose consciousness and accused Peppers of pushing her down a flight of stairs. Although she declined medical treatment at a hospital, she received care for her injuries at home.
When police arrived, Peppers answered the door shirtless and acknowledged the situation, stating, “I know what is going on.” He was taken into custody without any resistance. According to the court documents, Peppers later told the officers that he had repeatedly asked the woman to vacate his apartment and denied any physical contact with her.
Authorities discovered a clear plastic bag containing a white powder in Peppers’ wallet, which subsequently tested positive for cocaine. As a result, Peppers faces charges that include assault and battery on an intimate partner, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of a Class B drug.
During the court proceedings on Monday morning, the judge inquired whether Peppers was aware of the allegations and if he understood that a not guilty plea had been filed on his behalf. He responded affirmatively, saying, “Yes sir.” Prior to his release on $2,500 bail, which he posted on Saturday, prosecutors requested that he refrain from contacting the alleged victim. Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, consented to this condition.
“Judge, despite the fact that this is the case where there is evidence I have already seen that sheds real doubt on the allegations, including videotaped evidence, my client will not object to that condition and he’ll agree to the same thing,” Brofsky stated.
The next court hearing is slated for November 22; however, Peppers waived his right to be present on that date. He declined to comment while exiting the courthouse. Brofsky emphasized to reporters, “What I said in the courtroom I’ll repeat. We have evidence that completely contradicts the alleged victim’s story. I expect my client to be fully exonerated.”
Peppers, who recently celebrated his 29th birthday, was sidelined during Sunday’s match against the Miami Dolphins in Foxborough due to a shoulder injury. The previous week, he recorded an interception against the San Francisco 49ers. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2017, Peppers spent two seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the New York Giants. He joined the Patriots as a free agent in 2022 and signed a three-year contract extension worth up to $30 million in July. This year, he was appointed as a team captain.
Notably, Jabrill Peppers is among several NFL players utilizing a soft-shell Guardian Cap designed to mitigate head injuries. Following Sunday’s defeat at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots now hold a 1-4 record for the season.
