New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs has pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges arising from an alleged altercation with his personal chef. The plea was entered at Dedham District Court in Massachusetts on Friday.
Court documents state that the chef told police she and Diggs argued over money he owed her for her work. During the incident at his home on 2 December, she alleged that he 'smacked her across the face' and then 'tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck', leaving her short of breath.
Diggs's arraignment had been postponed until after Super Bowl LX to allow him to play in the NFL championship game. It was originally scheduled for 23 January but was moved to 13 February, five days after the Patriots' 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. A pretrial hearing has been set for 1 April.
His attorney said Diggs 'categorically denies these allegations', describing them as unsubstantiated and motivated by a financial dispute. The Patriots have released a statement expressing support for the player. Investigators noted that the chef first reported the incident on 16 December, two weeks after it occurred, and initially hesitated to file charges before deciding to proceed.
Friday's hearing was Diggs's first court appearance in the case, with the judge expected to address bail conditions and set future dates. Diggs, 32, has had six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and four Pro Bowl selections during his career with the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills. He signed with New England last March on a three-year, $69m deal and finished the season with 1,013 receiving yards and four touchdowns, playing in all four of the Patriots' playoff games.
