Jabrill Peppers, Patriots safety, found not guilty of domestic violence charges
QUINCY - Jabrill Peppers, a safety for the New England Patriots, was found not guilty on all charges of domestic violence after he repeatedly denied those accusations while testifying in his own defense at his trial.
Following closing arguments, the judge sent the jury to have lunch and deliberate the case shortly before 1 p.m. They returned their verdict a little more than an hour later, acquitting Peppers on the charges of assault and strangulation.
The trial at Quincy District Court began on Thursday with Peppers admitting to cocaine possession. The judge continued that charge against him for four months without a finding.
Jabrill Peppers faced domestic violence charges
The prosecution said Peppers became enraged and attacked his girlfriend last October in Braintree after she received a phone call from another man. He's accused of smashing her head against a wall and throwing her down the stairs. But Peppers says that's not what happened, testifying Friday, "I never slammed her into the wall."
"I never grabbed her by the neck," Peppers said. "I never pushed her down the stairs."
Both sides agree that Peppers and Sharline Jimenez were in a consensual sexual relationship. Defense attorney Marc Brofsky said the incident began because Jimenez tried to have unprotected sex with Peppers and refused to leave his home.
"I'm recording for my own safety. So please put your clothes on and leave," Peppers can be heard saying in a video played in court Thursday.
In a phone call played for the jury, Peppers is heard telling an unidentified person, "Coach. I f--ed up. She didn't want to leave ... she said I put my hands on her."
Jabrill Peppers' accuser testifies in court
Jimenez took the stand earlier on Thursday. She testified that he attacked her after a night out.
"The back of my head hit the wall because he had grabbed me by the neck and pushed me up against the wall," she said.
Peppers' lawyer questioned her injuries and asked about a multi-million-dollar civil lawsuit she's filing against the player.
"Is that what you're going to tell this jury, that you don't remember whether you had red marks?" Brokfsky asked. "You're suing him for nine-and-a-half million dollars and you don't know if you had red marks?"
In her closing argument, prosecutor Abigail Bird made the case that Peppers was "angry, enraged and lashing out in these videos."
"This case isn't about money. This case is about control," she said.
"I think it hurt my reputation"
Peppers missed seven Patriots games as a result of his arrest and lost his team captain position.
"I think it hurt my reputation," Peppers said outside court after the verdict. "It was a long three months for me. I lost a lot of my season to this. I couldn't be a part of the team."
He credited the videos he recorded as a crucial factor in the quick not guilty finding.
"I encourage every man or woman who has something to lose, if you ever find yourself in a situation like I was in, you have to record it because that might be the only thing that saves you," Peppers said. "To me, crimes against children and women are the most egregious things that you can do. And to be accused of that, it just, it just hurt."
Peppers was joined at the trial by his parents. His mother was emotional as she spoke after the verdict.
"I trusted the process. I trusted God," said Ivory Bryant. "I echo my son's sentiments and that when women make these type of false statements, it does hurt true victims."
Jimenez had no comment after the verdict. She is suing Peppers civilly for $9.5 million and he said he won't settle.
"A lot of guys settle because they don't want the media show," said Peppers. "They don't want their name being dragged through the mud like that. But I'm the type of guy where I stand for what's right."
Who is Jabrill Peppers?
Peppers, who played college football at the University of Michigan, joined the Patriots in 2022 after previous stints with the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants.
He signed a three-year contract extension with the Patriots in 2024 that could be worth up to $30 million.
The Patriots did not immediately release a comment on the not guilty verdict.