Jon
Jones has pleaded not responsible to 2 misdemeanor expenses
stemming from an encounter with a drug-testing agent at his
Albuquerque, New Mexico, dwelling earlier this yr.
Throughout a digital listening to in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court docket on
Wednesday, Jones pleaded not responsible to a petty misdemeanor for
assault and a misdemeanor for interference with communications.
Jones was in attendance with legal professional Christopher Dodd, whereas Choose
Brittany Maldonado was in control of the listening to.
A date for a bench trial continues to be but to be decided. The
circumstances for Jones’ launch till mentioned date are as follows: Jones
will not be allowed to own any firearms or harmful weapons, he’s
not allowed to own or eat any alcohol or unlawful medication, he
has to inform the court docket if his handle modifications and he has to
preserve contact along with his legal professional. Moreover, Jones should keep away from
contact with the alleged victims within the case.
If Jones is convicted on each expenses, he may face lower than a
yr in jail and fines totaling $1,500. MMAFighting.com was first to report the
information.
The case stems from an
incident between Jones and brokers from Drug Free Sport
Worldwide (DFSI), the UFC’s new anti-doping associate. In accordance
to a police report, the drug-testing agent, who was recognized as
Crystal Martinez, entered Jones’ dwelling on March 30 to gather a
pattern as a part of the UFC’s anti-doping program. Martinez alleged
that Jones was cooperative at first however grew to become agitated when he was
unable to initially present a urine pattern. When Martinez prompt
taking a blood pattern as an alternative, Jones threatened to sue, took her
telephone and started recording Martinez and her co-worker. In line with
the report, Jones then put the telephone in his pocket and obtained in
Martinez’s face.
Martinez instructed police she was “terrified” however elected to proceed
with the drug-testing course of as a result of she didn’t wish to additional
anger Jones on account of potential penalties from the UFC. Jones was
finally in a position to present a urine pattern, and Martinez obtained
her telephone throughout that interval. Martinez texted her boss, who was
recognized as Pierson Laughlin, relating to her considerations however was
unwilling to speak to Laughlin as a result of she was afraid Jones “would
assault her if he noticed her on the telephone.”
Jones, in the meantime, responded with a press release of his personal the place he
denied threatening the brokers and mentioned that the encounter ended
“pleasant and amicably.” Jones
admitted to police in assertion that he was “bothered” by the
arrival of the brokers and did use profanity in the course of the pattern
assortment course of. Nevertheless, he reiterated that he by no means threatened
anybody in the course of the incident.
Jones, who’s recovering from a torn pectoral suffered final yr,
is anticipated to defend his heavyweight title in opposition to Stipe
Miocic later this yr, doubtless at a UFC pay-per-view in New
York this November. The UFC ended a partnership with former
anti-doping associate USADA final yr, persevering with its program with
new anti-doping associate DFSI firstly of 2024.
