A victim in the alleged battery case involving Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs has formally requested that a court permanently prevent the release of any video depicting the incident. The woman, identified in court documents as "ANM," filed a motion Tuesday in Brown County, Wisconsin, court. She argued that public disclosure of the alleged footage of the violent encounter at Jacobs’ home could endanger her privacy, dignity, and safety.
ANM’s filing states, “Unless restrained, Hobart-Lawrence Police Department may disclose records or information in a manner that irreparably compromises Petitioner’s privacy and safety. Once sensitive information is released publicly, the resulting harm cannot be fully remedied.”
A judge has yet to rule on the motion, but a temporary injunction was granted on September 10, halting the release of the evidence.
Jacobs was charged on August 27 with one count of battery and one count of criminal damage to property. Authorities alleged that he assaulted ANM and broke her phone during a dispute on May 23. According to a criminal complaint filed by law enforcement, surveillance video showed Jacobs engaged in an altercation with the woman in a garage. The complaint further stated that footage appeared to show Jacobs taking the woman's phone while she was on the ground before damaging it.
The video was expected to become publicly accessible through police records requests after Jacobs entered a no contest plea to the charges on September 10.
"Together with the law office of Raff Law, LLC, our office filed a motion to seal this morning on behalf of our client, ANM, in the matter of State of Wisconsin v. Joshua Cordell Jacobs," ANM’s attorneys stated Tuesday. "The motion is consistent with our client’s desire to protect her privacy, particularly in light of Mr. Jacobs taking responsibility for his actions in the criminal proceeding. We have no further comment at this time."
Jacobs, who stated after reaching his plea deal that he takes “full responsibility” for his actions, has not practiced or played for the Packers since the charges were filed. The NFL confirmed last week that he will remain on the commissioner’s exempt list while the league continues its investigation into the matter.