Stefon Diggs Trial Date May 4: What Happened at the Pretrial Hearing
Judge Jeanmarie Carroll set the May 4 trial date during a pretrial hearing at Dedham District Court on Wednesday, April 2, 2026 — the next formal step in a case that has been building since Diggs was first charged in late December 2025.
Diggs did not attend the hearing. His legal team confirmed he was out of state and was not required to be present for the pretrial proceeding. The hearing nonetheless covered substantial ground.
Both sides addressed several outstanding motions. The primary disputes centred on access to text messages and emails that Diggs’s defence team wants to review — communications they believe will support their account of events. The parties also resolved procedural questions surrounding the protective order governing contact and evidence disclosure in the case.
Diggs’s lawyers also used a court filing Wednesday to sharpen their defence posture. They stated their investigation “has uncovered multiple false statements made by” the accuser. They further argued that on the day Diggs was charged in December, a business associate of the chef had made a “demand for payment of money” on her behalf via “email to Mr. Diggs’s representatives” — a demand they say “will tend to show the chef’s bias and motivation.”
Legal analyst Michael Coyne of NBC10 Boston assessed the case’s vulnerabilities for the prosecution: “The case really will hinge on who’s credible here, as to what took place in his house between the two of them. Absent her testifying, it is almost an impossible case for the government to succeed without the witness’s testimony.”
Coyne also noted the case could collapse entirely if Diggs and the chef reach a financial settlement before trial.
Sources: Boston Globe | Boston.com | NBC News / NBC10 Boston | NBC Boston
The Charges: Felony Strangulation and Misdemeanor Assault and Battery
Diggs faces two criminal charges in Dedham District Court:
1. Felony Strangulation or Suffocation Massachusetts law treats strangulation as a felony. A conviction carries a potential sentence of up to five years in state prison or two and a half years in a house of correction. Strangulation is defined under Massachusetts General Laws as intentionally impeding the normal breathing or circulation of blood by applying pressure to the throat or neck.
2. Misdemeanor Assault and Battery The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum sentence of two and a half years in a house of correction.
The felony strangulation charge represents the more serious legal exposure. A conviction on that charge alone could trigger consequences under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy independent of any criminal sentence.
Diggs pleaded not guilty to both charges at his arraignment on February 13, 2026. He left the courthouse without addressing reporters. The arraignment lasted slightly over one minute.
Sources: Boston.com | SI.com / Patriots | LAmag
“Smacked Her, Tried to Choke Her”: What Court Documents Say Happened December 2
The criminal complaint filed in Dedham District Court documents the alleged victim’s account to police in specific physical detail.
The woman, identified as Diggs’s personal chef who worked and lived at his Dedham, Massachusetts home, told police the altercation began over a text message exchange about money she believed Diggs owed her for her work.
According to the complaint, the dispute escalated physically on December 2, 2025 when Diggs allegedly “smacked her across the face” and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck.”
She did not immediately contact police. According to investigators, she told them she initially hesitated because of Diggs’s fame. She filed the police report on December 16, 2025 — 14 days after the alleged incident.
Wikipedia’s account of the case, sourced from court filings, adds additional context: after the alleged assault, the chef terminated her employment and left Diggs’s residence. On December 9, 2025 — one week after the alleged incident — she returned to the property to retrieve her belongings. When she asked about her overdue wages, Diggs’s personal assistant told her she would need to sign a non-disclosure agreement before receiving payment. She refused to sign the NDA. She filed the police report a week later.
Diggs was charged on December 22, 2025 and arrested. His arraignment was originally scheduled for January 23, 2026 — two days before the AFC Championship Game — but his attorneys successfully requested it be postponed to February 13, 2026, five days after Super Bowl LX, citing “a scheduling conflict with Diggs’ professional commitments.”
Sources: Boston.com | Wikipedia — Stefon Diggs | NBC Boston | Baller Alert
Stefon Diggs Pleaded Not Guilty: The Defence Position
Diggs’s legal team has mounted an aggressive and consistent denial since the charges first emerged.
His attorney David Meier issued a statement when the charges were filed in December 2025: “Stefon Diggs categorically denies these allegations. They are unsubstantiated, uncorroborated, and were never investigated — because they did not occur. The timing and motivation for making these allegations are clear: They are the direct result of an employee-employer financial dispute that was not resolved to the employee’s satisfaction.”
Following his February arraignment, attorney Mitchell Schuster told reporters outside the courthouse: “He is completely innocent of these false allegations. We are confident that after the facts and evidence are reviewed in this case, he will be exonerated. It’s a shame that this had to happen today. It’s frustrating for him to have to be here knowing what really happened. He’s a good person, and we are looking forward to the prosecutors seeing all the facts and evidence that we have gathered.”
The defence strategy rests on several pillars:
- The NDA demand — The defence argues that the chef’s refusal to sign an NDA, followed by the filing of criminal charges, demonstrates a financial motivation for the allegations
- The payment demand email — A business associate sent a payment demand on the chef’s behalf on the same day charges were filed, which the defence characterises as evidence of bias
- Investigation findings — The defence filed materials Wednesday claiming their investigation identified “multiple false statements” by the accuser
- Text messages and emails — The defence is seeking access to communications it believes will reshape the evidentiary picture
The case presents classic he-said/she-said dynamics in a private domestic setting with no confirmed third-party witnesses. Legal analyst Coyne’s assessment — that credibility will be the case’s hinge — reflects the standard difficulty prosecutors face in cases of this structure.
Sources: Boston Globe | Boston.com | SI.com
The Patriots Released Diggs: Super Bowl Run, Cap Space, and Free Agency
The legal case provides essential context for understanding why Diggs remains unsigned months into free agency — but the Patriots’ decision to release him was officially driven by finances, not the charges.
Diggs delivered a remarkable season in 2025 by any objective standard. He finished with 85 catches for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns — becoming the first Patriots receiver to crack 1,000 yards in a single season since Julian Edelman in 2019. He helped New England finish 14–3 in the regular season and reach Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026 against the Seattle Seahawks, played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The Patriots lost. Diggs caught just 3 passes for 37 yards in the game.
Less than a month later, on March 4, 2026, the Patriots released him. The move cleared $16.8 million in cap space — his base salary was scheduled to rise from $2.9 million to $20.6 million, with a total cap hit climbing to approximately $26.5 million. The Patriots had their contractual out and took it.
Diggs posted on Instagram: “THANK YOU for a hell of a year. We family forever.”
He entered free agency as one of the most productive available receivers in the NFL at any age — ranked #7 overall on PFSN’s NFL Free Agency Tracker entering the free agency period, and the top unsigned player after the initial wave of signings. His career totals stand at 942 receptions, 11,504 receiving yards, and 75 touchdown receptions across 11 NFL seasons.
The legal case shadows every team’s evaluation. Any franchise that signs Diggs must factor in the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy, which can trigger independent investigations and suspensions regardless of criminal verdicts. Analysts project Diggs could command a three-year deal worth approximately $14.5 million annually — a significant step down from his Patriots contract, reflecting both age and the legal uncertainty.
Current market odds (Kalshi) place the Baltimore Ravens as the most likely destination at 59%, followed by the Denver Broncos at 36%. Analysts have also linked him to the Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers, and Indianapolis Colts. Reports suggest Diggs may wait until after the 2026 NFL Draft before signing.
Sources: Wikipedia — Stefon Diggs | Pro Football Network — unsigned | SI.com Kalshi market | Pro Football Reference
Stefon Diggs Career: From Minneapolis Miracle to Super Bowl LX
Understanding the stakes of the May 4 trial requires context on who Stefon Diggs is as a player and what he has built across 11 NFL seasons.
Born November 29, 1993 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Diggs was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round (146th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft — a draft position that teams have long since recognised as one of the decade’s great value picks. He became one of the most productive receivers in the game from a position where most fifth-round picks never start a regular season game.
Key career highlights:
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Draft position | 5th round, 146th overall, 2015 |
| Career receptions | 942 |
| Career receiving yards | 11,504 |
| Career touchdowns | 75 |
| 1,000+ yard seasons | 7 of last 8 seasons |
| Pro Bowl selections | 4 |
| “Minneapolis Miracle” | Jan 14, 2018 — 61-yd TD, Vikings beat Saints |
| NFL receptions leader 2020 | 127 receptions, 1,535 yards (Bills) |
| Super Bowl LX (2025 season) | 85 rec, 1,013 yds, 4 TD with Patriots |
| Teams | Vikings (2015–19), Bills (2020–23), Texans (2024), Patriots (2025) |
His most celebrated individual moment remains the Minneapolis Miracle — a 61-yard walk-off touchdown catch against the New Orleans Saints in the 2017 NFC Divisional Playoff that remains one of the most-watched plays in NFL history.
His most recent season — coming off a torn ACL that cost him most of 2024 — demonstrated that he remains a legitimate top-tier receiver at 32, finishing fourth in the NFL in PFSN’s WR Impact Metric for 2025.
Sources: Wikipedia — Stefon Diggs | Prime Leaf career profile | Pro Football Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Stefon Diggs’s trial?
Stefon Diggs’s trial is scheduled to begin May 4, 2026 at Dedham District Court in Massachusetts. Judge Jeanmarie Carroll set the date during a pretrial hearing on April 2, 2026.
What are Stefon Diggs charged with?
Diggs faces two charges: felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery, both stemming from an alleged December 2, 2025 incident at his Dedham home involving his personal chef.
What did the personal chef allege?
According to the criminal complaint, the chef told police Diggs “smacked her across the face” and “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck” during a dispute over money she believed she was owed. She filed the report 14 days after the incident, telling police she initially hesitated because of Diggs’s fame.
Did Stefon Diggs plead guilty?
No. Diggs pleaded not guilty to both charges at his February 13, 2026 arraignment. His attorneys have called the allegations “categorically false” and “unsubstantiated.”
Why is Stefon Diggs still a free agent?
The Patriots released Diggs on March 4, 2026, primarily as a cap-saving move — clearing $16.8 million in salary cap space. The pending felony trial has complicated his free agency, as teams must weigh the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy and potential suspension risk. Analysts project he may wait until after the 2026 NFL Draft to sign.
What happened with the NDA?
Court filings and Wikipedia’s account of the case indicate that when the personal chef returned to Diggs’s home one week after the alleged assault to retrieve her belongings, Diggs’s personal assistant told her she would need to sign a non-disclosure agreement before receiving her outstanding wages. She refused. The defence argues this sequence demonstrates a financial motivation behind the criminal allegations.
What are Stefon Diggs’s career stats?
Over 11 NFL seasons (Vikings, Bills, Texans, Patriots), Diggs has accumulated 942 receptions, 11,504 receiving yards, and 75 touchdown receptions — including 7 seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.
This article is based on verified reporting from The Boston Globe, Boston.com, NBC News, NBC Boston, Sports Illustrated, LAmag, Baller Alert, Hot 97, IBTimes UK, Pro Football Network, SI.com/Kalshi, Pro Football Reference, Wikipedia, Prime Leaf, and NFL.com. All direct quotes from attorneys David Meier and Mitchell Schuster are drawn from their public statements at the December 2025 charging, February 2026 arraignment, and April 2026 pretrial hearing. Legal analysis attributed to Michael Coyne (NBC10 Boston) is sourced from NBC Boston reporting. All criminal charge details are sourced from the Dedham District Court complaint as reported across multiple outlets. This article presents all allegations as unproven; Diggs has pleaded not guilty and denies all charges.
