UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones entered a plea of not responsible on a pair of misdemeanor costs towards him throughout a digital listening to in a New Mexico courtroom on Wednesday.
Choose Brittany Maldonado Malott oversaw the proceedings with Jones current on the digital listening to alongside his lawyer Christopher Dodd. Jones plead not responsible to a petty misdemeanor for assault and a misdemeanor for interference with communications following an alleged altercation with drug testing brokers who visited his dwelling again in March.
As circumstances for his continued launch pending a bench trial — with a date nonetheless to be decided — Jones was ordered by the courtroom to not violate any legal guidelines, he’s to not possess any firearms or harmful weapons, he’s not allowed to own or devour any alcohol or unlawful medication, he has to inform the courtroom if his tackle modifications, he has to take care of contact together with his lawyer and he has to “keep away from all contact” with the alleged victims within the case.
Jones’ lawyer additionally defined why a warrant was initially issued within the case after the veteran UFC fighter missed a previous listening to and that was attributable to his title and tackle being recorded incorrectly by the courtroom. As soon as Jones discovered what occurred, he reached out to his lawyer and so they instantly contacted the courtroom to make sure all the right info was supplied.
The costs towards Jones stem from an alleged incident with a pair of brokers representing Drug Free Sport, who arrived at his home on March 30 to gather a pattern as a part of the UFC’s anti-doping company.
One of many brokers concerned recognized within the police report as Crystal Martinez claimed that Jones “appeared agitated” after he was unable to supply a urine pattern and was supplied the chance for a blood check as an alternative.
Martinez then claimed Jones then started asking them questions together with “if they’d cash” as a result of he was going to sue them. She additionally claimed that Jones allegedly grabbed her cellphone and “began recording them.”
Martinez informed police she was “terrified” with Jones standing lower than a foot away from her through the alleged incident and she or he was “afraid Jones would possibly hit her” after she contemplated terminating the drug check and leaving his property.
In response to the preliminary allegations, Jones vehemently denied the account from his interplay with the drug testing brokers.
“I used to be not too long ago visited by testers whereas I used to be celebrating a birthday and taking a nap,” Jones mentioned in April. “Upon waking up, I used to be caught off guard by the unprofessionalism and protocol by one of many testers, which induced frustration main me to make use of some profanity I remorse. Nonetheless, I need to emphasize that at no level did I threaten, get in anybody’s face, elevate my voice to anybody, or interact in any type of assault.
“It’s unlucky that false information has been unfold with out correct fact-checking. I need to guarantee you that I’ll vigorously defend myself towards these baseless accusations. The reality is, the incident merely didn’t happen.”
If Jones is convicted on each costs, he may face lower than a 12 months whole in jail and fines totaling $1,500.
Jones is presently in early preparations for his anticipated return to the UFC after a torn pectoral muscle knocked him out of his beforehand scheduled bout in 2023. The reigning UFC heavyweight champion is presently anticipated to face Stipe Miocic in a title combat with all indicators pointing at a date in November at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.
