New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore will not face a domestic assault and battery charge after Massachusetts prosecutors on Monday decided to drop it because they could not prove their case.
Barmore, 26, appeared Monday in Attleboro District Court for an arraignment due to an alleged assault and battery charge on a family/household member. However, prosecutors said in court that the case was “not viable for prosecution” due to the “current state of evidence” after new information emerged from the complainant, Barmore’s then-girlfriend. Prosecutors requested a day to file a formal notice to close the case, and the judge granted it.
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III told The Athletic on Tuesday that the woman who made the complaint did not want to travel out of state for the case.
“After a review of the evidence, it was determined this was a case we could not prove against the defendant,” Quinn said. “Our office spoke with the victim about the case. She lives out of state and is not coming back for the case. This decision is based on a review of the evidence, and the defendant is not getting preferential treatment.”
“Mr. Barmore is grateful to the District Attorney’s Office for carefully evaluating the facts, reviewing the materials that his attorney shared with them, and acting in the interests of justice,” David Meier, Barmore’s attorney, said in a statement.
The charge stems from an alleged incident in August 2025, when Barmore’s girlfriend at the time accused him of throwing her to the ground and threatening her. Barmore wasn’t arrested when the complaint was initially made, according to a court document obtained by The Athletic. The woman filed the complaint Aug. 25, but the alleged incident happened on Aug. 8.
Upon Barmore’s girlfriend being notified of a hearing in December 2025, she told police that she didn’t wish to return to the state and proceed with criminal charges. Still, a court official charged Barmore on Dec. 8 that year, even without the victim present.
According to a police report obtained by The Athletic, the woman, with whom Barmore has a child, had been living with him in Mansfield, Mass. On the morning of Aug. 8, the woman said Barmore woke up and became angry because the air conditioner was set at 70 degrees, though he wanted it at 68 degrees, according to the police report. He placed their 2-year-old child outside the bedroom and slammed the door shut, according to the report.
The alleged assault occurred after Barmore became incensed that the woman was making food, essentially accusing her of stealing it from him, the report said.
The woman called her mother, but Barmore took her phone and disconnected the call, the report said. That prompted the woman to run to the door and scream for help. Before she reached the door, according to the report, Barmore threw her to the floor. According to the police report, the woman “tried to get up, but Christian had grabbed her by the shirt in the area of her neck. Christian eventually let go, and (the woman) got up.”
After the woman packed her belongings, she told police that Barmore charged after her but did not strike or make contact with her. She told police their child tried to jump into her arms just as Barmore was charging, and that’s why Barmore did not make contact with her.
The woman told police she was initially hesitant to press charges because Barmore threatened her and claimed he would have his cousins “f— you up.”
The Patriots and the NFL were made aware of the abuse allegations at the time.
— The Athletic’s Chad Graff contributed to this report.