GREEN BAY, Wis. — Following the Brown County District Attorney’s decision to pursue two misdemeanor charges against Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs, the team issued a statement on Thursday.
“We are aware of the charges brought against Josh Jacobs,” the statement reads. “We will continue to cooperate with the NFL as we work through the process. We will have no further comment at this time.”
While the investigation into Jacobs’ involvement in a May 23 domestic dispute continues to unfold, the Packers won’t be releasing him at this time.
The 28-year-old Jacobs was originally booked in Brown County Jail on five charges, one of which was a felony:
Battery — Domestic Abuse
Criminal Damage to Property — Domestic Abuse
Disorderly Conduct — Domestic Abuse
Strangulation and Suffocation
Intimidation of a Victim
Three of the five charges—including the Class H felony of strangulation and suffocation—were dropped. Jacobs is being criminally charged with battery and damage to property. If convicted, each charge carries a maximum sentence of a $10,000 fine and/or nine months in prison.
Notably, the prosecutors opted not to pursue a domestic violence charge, but that’s more a result of location than anything else. The only thing keeping Jacobs from being charged with domestic violence is the incident taking place in the state of Wisconsin, where either being married or formerly married, or sharing a child together, is a prerequisite. Jacobs’ relationship with the victim doesn’t fall under that umbrella.
On Saturday, May 23, Hobart-Lawrence Police Department was dispatched to the residence for an altercation involving a man and a woman. According to the Brown County District Attorney’s incident report obtained by The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, the victim was trying to leave the premises through the garage door when Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground. In doing so, she struck her head and sustained an injury.
The report also states that the victim lay on the ground for a while before struggling to walk back into the house. There is video evidence of the confrontation that supports the victim’s claims.
If the damning video emerges and the court proceeds with convicting Jacobs, the Packers will likely move swiftly in cutting ties with him after two seasons in Green Bay. At that point, Jacobs will presumably face a suspension for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy.