- Wheeler was found guilty of both first- and second-degree assault
- Seattle cut Wheeler almost immediately after he was arrested in February 2021
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A King County (Washington) court has found former Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Chad Wheeler guilty of two counts of domestic violence.
Wheeler was convicted on a first-degree and a second-degree charge of assault/domestic violence, but was found not guilty of a charge of unlawful imprisonment.
King County prosecutors say a jury found Wheeler “used force or means likely to result in death” against his then-girlfriend, Alleah Taylor. She posted on Twitter later on Thursday: “I finally got justice.”
The state may seek a mandatory minimum term of five years for the first-degree charge, while the second-degree charge “involves an aggravating factor” that allows the state to seek a sentence above the standard.
Wheeler is expected to be sentenced on December 14.
Chad Wheeler was found guilty of two counts of domestic violence in suburban Seattle, WA
Wheeler, who has bipolar disorder, claims he suffered a “manic episode” during the incident. Meanwhile, Taylor was unsure if the attack stemmed from his mental health issues.
The Seahawks waived Wheeler after the incident occurred, with the team saying at the time, “The Seahawks are saddened by the details emerging against Chad Wheeler and strongly condemn this act of domestic violence.” Our thoughts and support are with the victim. Chad is a free agent and no longer with the team.”
Wheeler was booked in early February 2021 after officers responded to a call in the Seattle suburb of Kent from Taylor and members of her family who said she had been attacked but had locked herself in a bathroom.
Officers arriving on the scene heard a woman screaming, entered the apartment, broke open the locked door and found Wheeler with Taylor. She was crying and her face was covered in blood and her arm hung limp at her side, according to court records.
Wheeler was arrested, with police saying he was uncooperative and shouted “Sorry” and “I don’t hit women!” to officers. Police eventually used a Taser on Wheeler, but it reportedly had little effect.
While at the hospital, Taylor spoke to investigators, revealing that Wheeler began choking her and attempted to suffocate her after she refused to “stand up and bow down to him.”
Wheeler choked his ex-girlfriend Alleah Taylor unconscious and attacked her repeatedly
At the hospital, she was covered in marks and bruises attributed to bumps of which she was unaware
Taylor began to lose consciousness and tried to fight back, but Wheeler grabbed and twisted her arm. She was later diagnosed with a broken humerus and a dislocated elbow in her left arm.
After regaining consciousness, Wheeler stood by the bed and remarked, “Wow, you’re still alive?” – after which she ran into the bathroom where she called her family and the authorities.
Wheeler eventually picked the lock on the bathroom, went inside and started apologizing.
Taylor arrived at the hospital with noticeable swelling and bruising – attributed to blows and bumps she cannot remember – as well as lesions on her neck, some in the shape of fingerprints.