Home · Sports · Sep 10 archive
Packers RB Jacobs Pleads No Contest to Misdemeanor Charges
Confirmed
In Short: Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from a May incident involving his girlfriend.
Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from a May incident involving his girlfriend, according to court documents. The charges, which initially included battery with a domestic abuse enhancer and criminal damage with a domestic abuse enhancer, were reduced after it was determined that his girlfriend did not fit the domestic abuse victim mold.
Jacobs, who started all 17 games in his first season with the Packers, amassing 1,329 rushing yards and a career-best 15 touchdowns, appeared in court to plead no contest to both misdemeanor charges. 'I fully understand the seriousness of the situation, and I take full responsibility,' Jacobs said in court, according to reports.
A judge ordered Jacobs to pay a $1,000 fine and approved a deferred judgment agreement, meaning the charges will be dismissed if he complies with certain conditions. The incident, which occurred on May 23, involved a physical struggle between Jacobs and his girlfriend, resulting in a lump on her head and damage to her phone. Jacobs was initially charged with battery, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, strangulation, suffocation, and intimidation of a victim.
According to the police report, there was footage retrieved from Jacobs' complex that shows 'the altercation' between him and his unnamed girlfriend via an open garage door. Jacobs' girlfriend told police that Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground, resulting in injury. Jacobs' attorney stated in court that Jacobs has already volunteered to attend counseling.
While the NFL has come out and said that Jacobs remains on the commissioner's exempt list, the general consensus is that he will be removed at some point in the near future and handed a suspension. Packers running back Josh Jacobs hasn't admitted guilt but will accept punishment for his accused crimes, as he showed up in person to plead no contest to both misdemeanor charges.
What's confirmed
- "I fully understand the seriousness of the situation, and I take full responsibility," Jacobs said in court.
- The Packers, up to this point, have stood by Jacobs and have allowed him to participate in activities in the facility — which is allowed while he’s on the exempt list, as long as he doesn’t practice or play in games.
- ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, live at court today, stated that the court has accepted Jacobs’ no-contest plea — which means that the accused is willing to accept punishment but not officially admit guilt — on five conditions: The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman has reported that Jacobs’ attorney stated in court that Jacobs has already volunteered to attend counseling.
What's still developing
- At the time, the district attorney's office said prosecutors needed more evidence before deciding whether to file charges.
- SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News According to a news release police shared on the incident, they responded to a disturbance involving Jacobs on May 23.
- A criminal complaint said police went to Jacobs' home in Hobart shortly after 8:30 a.m.
- Another resident answered the door and said he was unaware of any altercation between Jacobs and his girlfriend, and that he saw both of them leave the home.
- She said he looked through Jacobs' phone and saw he was "talking to other girls," so she threw the phone.
- It showed Jacobs and the victim driving away before coming back, as well what took place in the garage.
- It also showed Jacobs took and damaged the victim's phone.
- She said Jacobs never returned her primary phone, and her second phone was damaged during the incident.