A water main break has led to the postponement of a court trial for Jabrill Peppers, a safety for the New England Patriots, which was scheduled for Wednesday. Peppers, who is 29 years old, is facing serious allegations, including claims that he assaulted his girlfriend by pushing her head into a wall and choking her multiple times after she received a phone call while they were lying in bed.
According to court documents, Peppers has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, as well as possession of a Class B drug that authorities believe to be cocaine. The original court appearance was set to take place in Quincy, Massachusetts, but the facility was closed due to the water main issue, necessitating a rescheduling of Peppers’ case for the following day.
The incident that led to these charges occurred in October, when police in Braintree, Massachusetts, responded to a report of a disturbance. It is alleged that Peppers forcibly pushed the woman to the ground, slammed her head against a wall, and choked her six separate times, as detailed in the court records. Despite experiencing injuries from the altercation, the woman declined medical attention and was treated at home.
When police arrived at the scene, Peppers answered the door without a shirt and reportedly acknowledged the situation, saying, “I know what is going on.” He was taken into custody without resistance. Authorities later discovered a clear bag containing a white powdery substance at the residence, which subsequently tested positive for cocaine.
During a court session in October, Peppers’ attorney, Marc Brofsky, presented evidence that he claimed would raise substantial doubts regarding the allegations against Peppers, including videotaped materials. Additionally, Peppers reportedly agreed to have no further contact with the alleged victim.
Since the incident, Peppers has not participated in seven games, placed on the commissioner’s exempt list on October 9, which prohibits him from practicing or playing but allows him to still receive his salary while the NFL reviews his case. He was reinstated from this list on November 25, though he participated in just two of the team’s last five games this season due to injuries affecting his foot and hamstring. Eventually, he was placed on injured reserve prior to the Patriots’ season-ending game against the Buffalo Bills on January 5.
The Patriots had signed Peppers to a contract extension earlier in the summer. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and played there for two seasons before spending three more with the New York Giants. As it stands, the NFL has announced that it is still reviewing Peppers’ legal situation, which continues to be monitored despite his return to play. His current contract with the Patriots is set to run through 2027.
