WR found not guilty on charges related to chef's claims

NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs is on trial for felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault charges.

The accuser, his former chef, alleges Diggs attacked her at his home in December 2025.

Diggs has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released by the Patriots in March.

A jury in Massachusetts returned a not guilty verdict on strangulation and assault and battery charges brought against NFL wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

The jury deliberated for roughly 90 minutes, which included a brief return to the courtroom to ask Judge Jeanmarie Carroll a question. The group returned shortly thereafter with a not guilty verdict on both counts.

Diggs’ former live-in chef, Jamila “Mila” Adams, accused Diggs of choking and slapping her in his home on Dec. 2, 2025. Adams took the stand during the first day of the trial and said that Diggs entered her bedroom at his home and “smacked me with an open hand.” She added that she struggled to breathe as Diggs allegedly wrapped his arm around her neck and choked her.

Adams took the stand on the first day of the trial, which spanned May 4 and 5 at Norfolk County District Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.

“The court is grateful for the seriousness and integrity with which you have carried out your responsibilities,” Carroll told the jury.

According to the Associated Press, Diggs’ attorney said in his opening statement May 4 that his client did nothing wrong while citing that no one witnessed the alleged incident and pointing out a lack of medical records. The defense, during cross-examination, also presented video of Adams visiting New York shortly after the attack and showed her smiling in one video and dancing in another.

"No assault ever occurred," a representative for Diggs said after the verdict.

USA TODAY Network acquired the police report in which “a woman, his former personal chef,” – now identified as Adams – accused Diggs of smacking her and placing his hands around her neck following an argument at Diggs' home in Dedham, Massachusetts about her compensation. The report was filed Dec. 16 and although Adams initially didn't press charges, she did a week later.

Lawyers also questioned Adams about why she waited to file the police report and press charges. Diggs was formally charged Dec. 29.

Stefon Diggs' lawyer says ex-Patriot wanted day in court

Diggs left the courthouse and did not speak with reporters as he climbed into the backseat of a black Escalade. A member of his defense team, Mitchell Shuster, said the case was "an attempt to extract money."

“Domestic violence is a very, very serious issue in this country and it’s disconcerting when people use it as a sword and manufacture claims in an attempt to extract money," Shuster said. "I believe the jury saw through that today and we are very, very pleased with this result.

“I’m thankful for someone like Stefon Diggs who insisted that he would get his day in court so that his truth could be heard – and it was heard. No assault ever occurred. … People have to stop targeting professional athletes and trying to extract money. They have a target on their back and it’s hard enough doing what they do. And this has to stop. People should focus on real victims from domestic violence and allegations like this do a tremendous disservice to those who are afflicted and impacted by causes like this. It’s been an honor to represent Stefon and could no be more proud of him that he insisted we see this through and the truth be told.”

Shuster said Diggs' lawyers always maintained confidence and always envisioned a swift, not guilty verdict.

Asked how Diggs was emotionally, Shuster said he was emotional but pleased.

"This has impacted him both personally and professionally. … He’s a human being," Shuster said. "People look at professional athletes like they don’t have feelings and they don’t have emotions and they don’t have cares. Well they do. And he does and he’s not shy about expressing that. Our hope is that this is now behind him, that he will get signed by a team. Any team that signs him will be lucky to have him. We are very pleased and happy that Stefon will continue on."

Jury returns with question for judge

The jury returned at approximately 4:15 p.m. ET to ask Carroll "What are the three criteria for assault and battery and the three for strangulation?"

Carroll, as she did in her instructions following closing arguments, laid out the Commonwealth's definition of the three separate criteria – that must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt – of both strangulation and assault and battery.

"You may examine any evidence regarding the defendant's actions or words and all the surrounding circumstances to determine whether the defendant (Diggs) intended to apply to pressure to the throat or neck of Mila Adams," Carroll said while defining the criteria for strangulation.

Defense for Stefon Diggs provides closing argument

The jury didn't see evidence of injuries, medical records or statements about an assault made before Dec. 16, and Diggs’ attorney, Andrew Kettlewell, was keen to point that out. There was not “a single shred of credible evidence” that an assault occurred and that prosecutors’ case was billed strictly on Adams’ word, Kettlewell argued.

Kettlewell also pointed to deleted text messages from a series of messages Adams showed the police officer to whom she initially reported the incident.

Prosecution wraps up case against Stefon Diggs

Prosecutors argued that Adams’ emotion during her recounting of the alleged attack leant her credibility in the case. He said all of the factors regarding the relationship between Diggs and Adams – as boss and employee, sometimes lovers and cohabitants – should be accounted for while deliberating the verdict.

Said Prosecutor Drew Virtue: “Was Ms. Adams a perfect witness? No, she was argumentative, avoidant, difficult. But does that mean you should throw away everything she says? No.”

What happened during trial Tuesday?

Among those who took the stand Tuesday included Diggs’ chief of staff, Janelle Sales, who provided an overview of the day of the alleged attack. She never witnessed any disturbances or injuries to Adams’ face. A massage therapist and nurse who administered an IV to Diggs also testified and relayed that nothing appeared out of the ordinary. An accountant for Diggs, Melissa Goddard, said that Adams had been overpaid $2,500.

Celebrity hairdresser Xia Charles, who counts Diggs as a client, testified that Adams stated she was going to sue Diggs for wages and “take it to the blogs,” but never insinuated or explicitly said that Diggs harmed her.

Closing arguments began at 2 p.m. ET.

Will Stefon Diggs testify in trial?

Diggs pleaded not guilty to both the felony strangulation charge and misdemeanor assault and battery charge, but it is not known if he will testify during the trial.

Pro Football Talk noted that Adams’ responses to cross-examination often included extraneous information not pertinent to the questions, and Carroll instructed jurors on multiple occasions to disregard portions of her testimony.

The defense also suggested a financial motive for Adams. Jurors, selected Monday, were prepped to hear evidence that Adams sought money – starting at $19,000 and increasing from there – from Diggs a day after charges were filed.

NBC 10 Boston said there are about 10 witnesses on the list to potentially be called to the stand.

What is Stefon Diggs charged with?

Prosecutors charged Diggs with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery. The maximum prison time for felony strangulation is five years in state prison or 2.5 years in a correctional facility, depending on the severity of the case.

According to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Chapter 265, Section 15D, which covers strangulation: “Whoever strangles or suffocates another person shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison for not more than 5 years or in the house of correction for not more than 2 1/2 years, or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.”

What’s next for Stefon Diggs?

Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Patriots last offseason following a 2024 campaign that ended with a season-ending knee injury. Diggs led the team with 85 catches for 1,013 yards as New England reached Super Bowl 60. The Patriots released him in March and saved $16.8 million in salary cap space. He remains unsigned.

Diggs started his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings and also played for the Buffalo Bills.

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