New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs appeared in Dedham District Court on Friday, February 13, 2026, for his arraignment on charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery. This came just five days after he played in Super Bowl LX (February 8, 2026), where the Patriots lost 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks.
New England Patriots Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs emerges from Dedham District Court in Dedham, Mass., on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. © Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
New England Patriots Wide Receiver Stefon Diggs emerges from Dedham District Court in Dedham, Mass., on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. © Mark Jarret Chavous/The Enterprise / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Recap of Stefon Diggs’ Allegations
The hearing was brief—lasting just over a minute—and took place at 9 a.m. ET. A not guilty plea was entered on Diggs’ behalf by his attorney (noted as Sara Silva or Mitchell Schuster in various reports).
The judge ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim (including third-party contact) and released him on personal recognizance bail (no cash bail required). The case was continued to a pretrial hearing on April 1, 2026, at 9 a.m.
The charges stem from an alleged incident on December 2, 2025, at Diggs’ home in Dedham, Massachusetts. According to police reports and court documents:
The accuser, Diggs’ former personal (live-in) chef, claimed an argument over unpaid wages escalated.
She alleged Diggs smacked her across the face, then used his elbow/crook of his arm to choke her around the neck, causing breathing difficulty and a near-blackout sensation. She reportedly felt thrown onto a bed during the struggle, with redness observed on her chest (though no photos were taken as evidence).
Text messages referenced a dispute over seasonal pay, with the chef saying Diggs “wasted time” and him responding dismissively.
Diggs has consistently denied the allegations through his legal team, calling them “unsubstantiated, uncorroborated,” and motivated by an unresolved financial dispute. His attorney emphasized confidence in exoneration once facts and evidence are reviewed. Prior statements described it as an employer-employee issue that “did not occur.”
Stefon Diggs leaving court after pleading not guilty to assault and strangulation charges pic.twitter.com/a0SqskQN2P
— streetaddictz.net (@streetaddictz) February 13, 2026
Additional Context
The original arraignment date was January 23, 2026, but was postponed at the defense’s request to avoid conflicting with the Patriots’ playoff run and Super Bowl appearance.
Diggs switched attorneys shortly before the hearing (former lawyers David Meier and Michael DiStefano withdrew on February 12; Sara Silva took over).
Diggs (age 32) remains under contract and fully eligible, though this case has shadowed his season alongside other team issues (e.g., teammate Christian Barmore’s separate domestic assault case).
This is an ongoing criminal matter—the arraignment is just the formal charging and plea stage, with potential for a trial, plea deal, or dismissal ahead. No further details on evidence or next steps were immediately available post-hearing.
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