Chad Wheeler, a former National Football League (NFL) player, was found guilty by a Washington state jury of two counts of domestic violence on Thursday.
The incident involving Alleah Taylor, Wheeler’s then-girlfriend, took place in 2021, ESPN reported. A spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told the outlet the jury had found that Wheeler “used force or means likely to result in death” against the victim. (RELATED: REPORT: NFL Legend Frank Gore Dragged A Naked Woman Through A New Jersey Hotel By Her Hair)
Ex-Giant Chad Wheeler found guilty on domestic violence charges https://t.co/mA2KVrgXZv pic.twitter.com/8ouBKfmxtv
— New York Post (@nypost) November 10, 2023
During that incident Wheeler reportedly pinned his girlfriend down and twice choked her until she lost consciousness, ESPN noted. Taylor told the police that Wheeler expressed surprise that she was still alive after she regained consciousness from the second choking, the outlet reported.
Taylor told the jury in October that she thought she was going to die during the incident and had told the police she was “being killed” on the night of the assault, the New York Post reported.
Wheeler pleaded not guilty to the charges and said he was having a “manic episode” related to his bipolar disorder during the incident, per the Post.
The jury found Wheeler not guilty on unlawful imprisonment charge, ESPN reported, but the the domestic violence charges on which he was convicted carry a mandatory prison sentence of at least five years. Wheeler is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14, per the outlet.
“I finally have justice,” Taylor tweeted Thursday following the verdict.
I finally have justice 🙏🏽❤️
— Alleah taylor (@alleah_taylor1) November 9, 2023
Wheeler played for the New York Giants from 2017 to 2019. He then signed with the Seattle Seahawks, who waived him after his Jan. 2021 arrest. Wheeler has not played for any NFL team since, The Seattle Times noted.