Former New York Giants offensive lineman Chad Wheeler has been found guilty on two counts of domestic violence.
A King County (Washington) court convicted Wheeler on first-degree and second-degree counts of assault/domestic violence stemming from a 2021 incident in which he violently assaulted his then-girlfriend, Alleah Taylor. However, the court found him not guilty on one count of unlawful imprisonment.
Wheeler was a member of the Seattle Seahawks at the time of his arrest.
The 29-year-old Wheeler allegedly suffers from bipolar disorder and claims to have been experiencing a “manic episode” during the time of the assault, which left Taylor hospitalized.
Wheeler had choked Taylor until she lost consciousness and when she awoke, he allegedly expressed surprise that she was still alive.
“He stood up. And he told me to bow down. And I asked him why. And he didn’t respond. He just told me to bow down again. And I told him no. And he immediately grabbed my neck. And that’s when things began,” Taylor told ‘CBS This Morning’ in 2021.
“I had touched my face. And I looked down, and there was, there’s blood on my hand. . . I remember getting up and running to the bathroom. Chad was standing by the bed, by the doorway. And he was sipping his smoothie and was, like, ‘Wow, you’re, you’re still alive.'”
After the verdict was read, Taylor shared her relief on X, formerly known as Twitter.
I finally have justice 🙏🏽❤️
— Alleah taylor (@alleah_taylor1) November 10, 2023
A spokesperson with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells ESPN that a jury determined Wheeler “used force or means likely to result in death.” As a result of the conviction, he faces a potential mandatory minimum of five years for the first-degree assault/domestic violence charge. Because of the severity of Taylor’s injuries, the second-degree/domestic violence assault charge carries an aggravator, allowing the State to seek a sentence above the standard range.
Wheeler, who is currently in custody, is scheduled for sentencing on December 14.
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