New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs on Friday pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges stemming from an alleged dispute with his personal chef.
The arraignment at Dedham District Court in Massachusetts was postponed until after Super Bowl LX so Diggs could play in the NFL championship game. At the arraignment, Diggs was scheduled to next appear for a pretrial hearing on 1 April.
According to court records, the chef told Dedham officers she and Diggs argued about money he owed her for her work. During the 2 December encounter at his home, she said, he “smacked her across the face” and then “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck”, leaving her feeling short of breath.
Diggs’s arraignment was originally slated for 23 January but was moved to 13 February – five days after the Patriots’ 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Diggs’s attorney has said he “categorically denies these allegations”, calling them unsubstantiated and motivated by a financial dispute. The Patriots released a statement saying they support him.
Investigators allege the woman first reported the incident to police on 16 December, two weeks after it occurred; she initially hesitated to file charges but later chose to do so, according to court documents.
The arraignment Friday was the first court appearance in the case. The judge was expected to address bail conditions and set future hearing dates.
Diggs, 32, spent the first part of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills. He had six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and earned four Pro Bowl selections.
After a short stint in Houston, Diggs signed with the Patriots last March on a three-year, $69m deal. He finished this season with 1,013 receiving yards and four touchdowns and played in all four of New England’s playoff games.
