BOSTON (AP) — New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs pleaded not guilty Friday to a felony charge strangulation and other criminal charges due to an alleged dispute with his personal chef.
Massachusetts Dedham District Court Judge Jeanmarie Carroll released Diggs, 32, on personal recognizance and ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim. A hearing was scheduled for April 1.
Wearing a white shirt and tie under a gray sweater, Diggs stood next to his attorney during the brief proceeding, which lasted less than five minutes. Both Diggs and his legal representation declined to speak to reporters.
The arraignment was originally scheduled for January 23, but was postponed so Diggs could participate Superbowl LX. The Patriots lost 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks.
According to court records, the chef told Dedham officers that she and Diggs were arguing about the money he owed her for her work. During the Dec. 2 encounter at his home, she said, “he punched her in the face” and then “tried to strangle her with the crook of his elbow around her neck,” leaving her short of breath. She told officers she was having trouble breathing and felt like she might have blacked out.
Diggs’ attorney has said he “categorically denies these allegations,” calling them baseless and motivated by a financial dispute. Diggs is charged with one count of strangulation or suffocation and one count of assault and battery.
The Patriots released a statement saying they support him.
Police said the woman first reported the incident on Dec. 16 and was initially hesitant to press charges before later asking to do so, court documents show.
Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with New England this offseason and was a main target for quarterback Drake Maye during the Patriots’ AFC East title run. Before joining the Patriots, Diggs was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 and played for the Buffalo Bills before a brief stint with the Houston Texans in 2024.
