New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs has pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with an alleged dispute with his private chef over money she said he owed her for her services.
Five days after playing in Super Bowl LX, Diggs appeared for his arraignment Friday morning at Massachusetts’s Dedham District Court. The four-time Pro Bowl player stood and was attentive but did not speak during the hearing, which lasted less than two minutes.
After attorney Michael Schuster entered the not-guilty plea on behalf of his client, Diggs was released on his own recognizance and ordered to have no contact with his accuser. A pretrial hearing was set for April 1.
“He is completely innocent of these false allegations that have been alleged against him,” Schuster told reporters outside the courthouse after the hearing. “We are confident that after the facts and evidence are reviewed in this case, he will be completely exonerated. … When they are presented it will paint a very different picture and we’re very confident that he will be exonerated.”
Diggs did not speak to reporters.
The alleged incident is said to have occurred at Diggs’ house Dec. 2. His accuser reported it to Dedham police two weeks later, according to court records, stating that Diggs had “smacked her across the face”and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”
Diggs was charged with felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery at a court hearing Dec. 30.
The arraignment hearing was originally scheduled for Jan. 23 but was postponed until after the Super Bowl. Diggs had three catches for 37 yards in the Patriots’ 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
STEFON Diggs was spotted with a stunning model friend on the Super Bowl field as his girlfriend Cardi B was missing from the action after their suspected split.
Instagram model Pree – who is reportedly a longtime close companion of the New England Patriots’ wide receiver – was busy posting from her perch at the Super Bowl before Stefon‘s big loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
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Cardi B had disappeared from Stefon Diggs’ side for the biggest game of his life as he tried, and was unsuccessful, to help bring home the Super Bowl trophy against the Seattle SeahawksCredit: GettyCardi was noticeably silent in support of Stefon leading up to and during the biggest game of his careerCredit: Instagram/iamcardibStefon’s long time close associate, Instagram model, Pree, however was on the field at Levi Stadium, as she came out to support the NFL star, just hours before the big gameCredit: Instagram/iam___pree
In a video obtained by blogger Tasha K, Pree can be seen on the Levi Stadium field hours before the game on Sunday.
Stefon, the father of six kids with six different women, was seen standing just yards away in the brief video.
Last night, Pree shared pics from her prime seat watching the game.
She also reposted an official Patriots post about Stefon.
Cardi fueled the flames with her strange interview behavior as well.
When asked by an ESPN reporter if she had a message for Stefon ahead of the matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, Cardi simply said, “Good luck,” before turning on her heels and walking away.
Until last night, the WAP rapper had been riding hard for the NFL star on her social media, and cheering along with Pats fans both pre- and post-big games.
As The U.S. Sun exclusively reported, she even dropped over a million dollars on preparations to give Stefon a big celebration this weekend.
“She’s incredibly excited and fully locked in,” a source familiar with the plans said. “This isn’t just about attending the game — it’s about showing up for her man in the biggest way possible and celebrating with everyone they love.”
Cardi and Stefon welcomed their first child together, a baby boy, in November.
STEFON’S LEGAL TROUBLES
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots wide receiver is currently facing a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of assault following an alleged incident last December.
Stefon has denied the accusations through his attorney, David Meier.
While the arraignment was originally slated for January, it was pushed back to allow Stefon to participate in the postseason.
Stefon is now scheduled to appear at the Dedham District Court in Massachusetts this Friday, February 13, 2026, at 9:00 am, where he is expected to enter a formal plea.
During this hearing, the judge will determine the conditions of his release, which may include bail, travel restrictions, or a no-contact order.
The allegations stem from a December 16 police report filed by a woman employed as Stefon’s personal chef.
According to Dedham police, the woman was initially “emotional and hesitant” to identify him due to his high public profile.
Court documents allege that Stefon entered her unlocked bedroom and confronted her over a financial dispute regarding unpaid wages.
The situation reportedly escalated, with Stefon allegedly striking her across the face and attempting to choke her with the crook of his elbow when she tried to push him away.
Pree was busy posting from her perch at the Super Bowl as she cheered on her longtime companionCredit: Instagram/iam___preePree posted this photo of Stefon over the weekendCredit: Getty
