Evidence in the battery case against suspended Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs could soon be released after the presiding judge declined to have it permanently sealed.
Instead, Brown County (Wisconsin) District Court judge Marc A. Hammer has issued a new order, cancelling the temporary order to seal the evidence at the victim’s request that he previously issued on September 10. Beginning Friday, the decision on whether or not to release the evidence – which includes surveillance video, according to the criminal complaint – will be in the hands of the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department.
‘The victim’s request to seal records in this matter was denied, as the Court found there to be a more appropriate forum in which the request will be made,’ Jacobs’ attorneys David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III told The Daily Mail in an email statement. ‘Josh respects the Court’s decision, and Wisconsin law regarding victim’s rights.’
Jacobs was accused of throwing his former partner to the ground in an altercation in May. The Packers star pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property earlier this month.
He is currently on the NFL commissioner exempt list, barring him from playing or practicing with the Packers until the league concludes its own investigation. The league has been pursuing the surveillance footage described in the criminal complaint and will continue to do so when the new court order comes into effect on Friday, an NFL spokesman told The Daily Mail.
Attorneys speaking to ESPN on behalf of the victim in the case requested that the evidence be sealed out of their ‘client’s desire to protect her privacy, particularly in light of Mr. Jacobs taking responsibility for his actions in the criminal proceeding.’
Jacobs was accused of throwing his former partner to the ground in an altercation in May
The Packers are off to a 1-1 start in Jacobs’ absence and currently rank dead last in the NFL with 65.5 rushing yards per game. They host the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football
The Daily Mail is among several media outlets to request the evidence.
Should the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department decide to release the footage, the victim and/or Jacobs will be allowed to file an appeal before any information is publicized.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection was arrested May 26, three days after Hobart-Lawrence police officers came to his home to investigate a disturbance.
According to police, the woman said she had been looking through Jacobs’s phone and saw he was talking to other women, and that she threw the phone in anger without breaking it. She told police that Jacobs had her phone and she told him he could look through it.
Police said the woman indicated she tried to retrieve her phone from Jacobs, but he grabbed her arm and began a struggle that lasted several minutes. They left the home in separate vehicles before eventually returning.
According to police, the woman was trying to exit a garage door when Jacobs grabbed her and threw her to the ground, causing her to hit her head. Police said Jacobs also took the phone from her while she was on the ground.
The Packers are off to a 1-1 start in Jacobs’ absence and currently rank dead last in the NFL with 65.5 rushing yards per game. They host the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football.
