Last October, former Michigan star Jabrill Peppers was arrested on assault charges and drug possession. He appeared in court this Thursday for the start of his trial.
Peppers found himself in this predicament on the night of his 29th birthday. The former Lott Trophy winner was initially charged with “assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation, and possession of a Class B substance believed to be cocaine.” On Thursday afternoon, he pleaded guilty to cocaine possession.
That’s not the only concerning charge that was discussed this week. Peppers was accused of assaulting a 34-year-old woman. The Braintree police were told that Peppers allegedly choked her six times before shoving her to the ground and putting her head against a wall.
“The only thing I could say at the time is ‘Why are you doing this to me, I’m someone’s mother.’ All I could think of was my son,” she testified, via the Boston Herald . “He said, ‘Because you keep playing with me.'”
Peppers has pleaded not guilty to strangulation and assault and battery. He told the cops that the alleged victim was intoxicated and acted “erratic” because he didn’t want to have sex with her.
It’s a he-said/she-said about an incident the night of Peppers’ 29th birthday. Peppers’ attorney Marc Brofsky said that the woman “wanted to have more of a relationship with my client than he did” and Peppers wanted to kick her out of his house because she continually tried to have unprotected sex with him — an elevation in their relationship he wasn’t prepared for — and that she refused to leave.
Peppers didn’t harm her, Brofksy said, and she made up the assault and immediately went to a New York attorney known for suing rich and powerful celebrities — including against Harvey Weinstein and Sean “Diddy” Combs — for bigtime payouts. In her own suit, she testified, she sought $9.5 million in damages for the night.
It was previously reported that Peppers and this woman have had a consensual sexual relationship since 2022.
Prior to going pro, Peppers played at Michigan from 2014-2016. The All-American safety was then selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. They traded him to the New York Giants in March 2019. He spent a few years in the Big Apple before signing a deal with the New England Patriots.
Peppers had a strong 2023 season with the Patriots, racking up 78 tackles, eight pass break-ups, two interceptions and a forced fumble. That earned him a three–year, $30 million contract last offseason.
Jury selection for Peppers’ trial kicked off this Thursday. It’s unclear how long this legal process will take.
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