Massachusetts prosecutors to drop charge against Patriots’ Christian Barmore

ATTLEBORO, Mass. — Massachusetts prosecutors announced Monday that they will drop assault and battery charges against New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian J. Barmore because they do not believe they can prove their case.

Barmore, 26, appeared in Attleboro District Court with his legal team, but did not speak in the courtroom or answer questions from reporters.

A criminal complaint said Barmore briefly took his girlfriend’s phone, threw her to the ground and grabbed her by the shirt last year during an argument Aug. 8 at his home in Mansfield, near Boston. The woman told Mansfield police she reported the incident on Aug. 25, nearly three weeks after it happened. She provided officers with a photo showing bruising that she said occurred when she was thrown to the ground, according to the complaint.

However, Bristol County Prosecutor Thomas M. Quinn III told reporters that the woman who filed the complaint did not want to travel out of state for the case. He also pointed out that Barmore was not arrested when the complaint was initially filed, which he said was significant.

Barmore’s attorney, David Meier, has denied any wrongdoing.

“The evidence will demonstrate that no criminal conduct occurred,” Meier said in an earlier statement, calling the matter a personnel dispute that should be resolved.

The Patriots previously said they were aware of the situation and had informed the NFL.