Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was formally charged Thursday with two Class A misdemeanors stemming from a May 23 incident at his home in Hobart, according to court records and the Brown County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors charged Jacobs, 28, with one count of battery and one count of criminal damage to property. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of nine months in jail, a $10,000 fine or both if he is convicted.
The charges follow a months-long review after Jacobs was arrested May 26. Hobart-Lawrence police initially booked him on five counts, including felony strangulation and suffocation and several misdemeanors with domestic-abuse enhancers. The district attorney did not file the felony or the other misdemeanor counts.
District Attorney David L. Lasee said in a statement that his office “sought to ensure a fair and complete review of available evidence, some of which only recently became available to our office due to significant, ongoing forensic efforts by law enforcement.”
According to the criminal complaint, officers were dispatched about 8:37 a.m. May 23 after a 911 call of a disturbance at Jacobs’ residence. The complaint alleges Jacobs and his girlfriend argued over cellphones, that a physical struggle followed and that Jacobs caused bodily harm and damaged the woman’s phone. The woman told police she had a lump on her head. Jacobs has not been convicted, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
Jacobs spent a night in jail after turning himself in and was released the next day while prosecutors continued the investigation. He is scheduled for an initial court appearance Nov. 17.
“The Brown County District Attorney has reviewed evidence and elected to file misdemeanor charges against Josh that do not include domestic violence,” Jacobs’ attorney said in a news release. “The allegations will be addressed in court, and not in the media. Mr. Jacobs respects the District Attorney’s office and the process it followed.”
“The NFL is closely monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review.” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. Jacobs remains subject to possible discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said this week the team has prepared for the possibility of a suspension.
Jacobs has practiced and played for Green Bay this offseason and preseason when healthy. He signed with the Packers in 2024 after five seasons with the Raiders.
