New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers has pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing cocaine before his domestic violence trial gets underway on Thursday.
Peppers – who was arrested hours after his 29th birthday in October for allegedly strangling and assaulting his on-off girlfriend with a deadly weapon – admitted to a Massachusetts judge that he was carrying the illegal drug at the time of his arrest.
The NFL player has been ordered to remain drug-free and keep out of trouble for the next four months after making his guilty plea, with his trial for domestic violence slated to begin later on Thursday.
He is still facing three other charges related to his arrest on the morning of October 5, 2023, including counts of strangulation and assault and battery.
Jury selection for the case’s trial, which was postponed on Wednesday following a water-main break at the courthouse, is believed to be taking place Thursday morning.
A police report obtained by DailyMail.com back in October said Peppers’ on-off girlfriend claimed he got violent with her at around 4am on October 5, after she received a phone call during sex that he ‘didn’t like’.
Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers has pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing cocaine
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It is alleged that the Patriots team captain demanded she leave his apartment, choked her six times and pushed her head against the wall with his hands around her neck, while the pair were still naked.
According to court documents, he is then alleged to have pushed her down a set of stairs, before throwing her handbag and cell phone down seconds later.
In light of the shocking allegations, Peppers was placed on the NFL commissioner’s exempt list on October 9; banning him from attending games and practice with the Patriots.
The former Michigan star claimed to have video evidence that will exonerate him of all charges, with his attorney saying at the time of his arrest: ‘He’s not going to comment now, but what I said in the court room, I’ll repeat.
‘We have evidence that completely contradicts the alleged victim’s story and I expect my client to be fully exonerated.’
When asked whether it was video evidence, the attorney added: ‘Yes, and other evidence as well.’
Peppers had played in the first four games of the Patriots’ 2024 season before his arrest in October.
Peppers was arrested hours after his 29th birthday in October for allegedly strangling and assaulting his on-off girlfriend with a deadly weapon
The 29-year-old NFL player was also found in possession of cocaine at the time of his arrest
He was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 after an impressive college stint with Michigan, and in 2019 he was acquired by the New York Giants.
After three years in New York, Peppers moved to New England, where he has established himself as one of the team’s best players and a regular starter.
In July of this year, he also agreed to a new three-year, $30million contract with the team.
Following his arrest, the Patriots said in a statement: ‘We are aware of an incident involving Jabrill Peppers over the weekend in which the police are currently investigating. We will have no further comment at this time.’
