Jonryheem Wolfley-Peoples, an Idaho man who once played defensive line for Brigham Young University and later transferred to Idaho State University, will serve just 40 days in county jail after a jury found him guilty of attacking his girlfriend because she did not quickly pack up their camping equipment following an excursion.
Background
The attack occurred in August 2025 while Wolfley-Peoples and the victim were camping together. According to an arrest affidavit, the woman explained that loading the equipment was overwhelming for her and that she had been cooking for him. Wolfley-Peoples responded by calling her "lazy and worthless," then told her he would "hit her, punch her, and abuse her every day for the next ten years." He also called her a vulgar slur before lunging at her and shoving her to the ground, according to court documents.
The woman reported that she fell hard on her back and her nose began bleeding so severely that a blood clot came out of her left nostril. She reported the assault to police in September 2025 after investigators reviewed threatening text messages Wolfley-Peoples had sent her, including statements like "You ever turn off your location again on me, I'll put a bullet between your f—ing eyes myself in front of your f—ing kids."
In September 2025, the woman came forward and reported Wolfley-Peoples to police. Investigators reviewed text messages that Wolfley-Peoples sent the woman and found additional threats including: "I'm gunna beat the f— out of you when I see you just, so you know," and "I'll beat the f— out of you."
The Charges
Wolfley-Peoples was convicted in April 2026 of three misdemeanors: domestic battery without traumatic injury, use of telecommunication to harass, and assault. A jury acquitted him of more serious felony charges including domestic battery with traumatic injury and aggravated assault.
At his sentencing hearing, the victim described years of escalating abuse that began with verbal attacks before turning physical.
"The abuse didn't start with violence," she explained, according to East Idaho News. "It started with words. I was called names, torn down, and made to feel small. Over time, that turned into control. Controlling where I went, what I did, who I spoke to, and how I felt. Then it became financial abuse, where I was carrying the weight of providing while he drained our resources. And eventually it became physical."
She recounted specific incidents, including being choked while pregnant and being attacked in front of her children.
"He hit me across the face in front of my son," she said. "I can still hear my son screaming. That sound stays with me."
State prosecutor Rocky Wixom argued for a harsher sentence, pointing to the threatening text messages Wolfley-Peoples sent.
"I'm going to recommend something substantially more than we see in most misdemeanor cases," Wixom told the court, East Idaho News reported. "He was making threats about putting a bullet between the victim's eyes in front of (her) kids and just nonstop violence… those text messages that were just so inexcusable and so foul."
Wolfley-Peoples received credit for four days served plus two years of supervised probation and $900 in court fines and fees. Idaho law caps misdemeanor domestic battery sentences at one year in county jail.
Key Takeaways
- Former BYU and Idaho State University football player sentenced to 40 days in jail for misdemeanor domestic battery without traumatic injury, use of telecommunication to harass, and assault
- Jury acquitted him of felony charges including aggravated assault and domestic battery with traumatic injury
- Attack occurred after victim did not quickly pack camping equipment; Wolfley-Peoples allegedly called her "Worthless b—" and threatened daily abuse for 10 years
- Victim reported being choked while pregnant and attacked in front of her children during the relationship
- Prosecutor argued for stiffer sentence, citing death threats sent via text message including "I'll put a bullet between your f—ing eyes myself in front of your f—ing kids"
What's Next
Wolfley-Peoples will serve his 40-day jail sentence and complete two years of supervised probation. The court ordered $900 in fines and fees. His defense attorney may appeal the conviction, though no motion had been filed as of publication.
The victim stated at sentencing that she hopes sharing her story will help others recognize warning signs of domestic violence before abuse escalates to physical harm.