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New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs appeared in Dedham District Court on February 13, where he pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and misdemeanour assault and battery charges stemming from an alleged altercation with his personal chef. The arraignment, lasting about a minute, came just days after Diggs played in Super Bowl LX.
The charges relate to an incident on December 2, 2025, at Diggs' Massachusetts home. According to police reports and court documents, the chef claimed that a dispute over unpaid wages escalated when Diggs entered her unlocked bedroom following a text exchange. She alleged that Diggs became angry, slapped her across the face, and "tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck," leaving her short of breath. The woman reported the incident to police on December 16, two weeks later, saying she experienced redness on her chest and difficulty breathing.
Diggs, 32, has denied the allegations since they were first filed. His attorneys have consistently argued that the accusations are false and financially motivated. "We're confident that after the facts and evidence are reviewed in this case, he will be completely exonerated," attorney Mitchell Schuster told reporters outside the courthouse. Another member of Diggs' legal team, David E. Meier, previously stated, "The timing and motivation for making the allegations is crystal clear: they are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee's satisfaction."
The arraignment had originally been scheduled for January 23 but was postponed allowing Diggs to participate in the Patriots' postseason run, including the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. He was released on personal recognizance and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim, including through third parties. A pretrial hearing has been set for April 1.
Court records show Diggs has changed legal representation multiple times since the charges were filed. His current attorney, Sara Silva of Silva, Kettlewell, and Pignatelli LLP, was recognized as Massachusetts Lawyer of the Year in 2020. During the arraignment, defence attorneys attempted to impound the police report, but the request was denied.
The Patriots organization has publicly supported Diggs throughout the process. In a statement, the team said, "Stefon has informed the organization that he categorically denies the allegations. We support Stefon. We will continue to gather information and will cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities and the NFL as necessary."
Diggs, who just completed his first season with New England, addressed the matter briefly in January, acknowledging the emotional toll but declining to discuss details due to the ongoing case. "Obviously, it's a different time, a very emotional time. I've been taken aback by some of the things that's been going on," he said.
As the case moves forward, Diggs remains under court order to avoid contact with the alleged victim, while his legal team prepares to challenge the accusations in what is expected to be a closely watched trial.
