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UFC champion Jon Jones is back in the news and once again it has nothing to do with his amazing exploits inside the octagon.
Jones, a four-time UFC light heavyweight champion who has had three of those titles revoked for felony hit-and-run charges in 2015 and for testing positive for banned substances in 2016 and 2017, has now been charged with battery in Albuquerque from an alleged incident that took place at a strip club in April of 2019 and with failing to appear at a bond arraignment for the charge in June.
KRQE News in Albuquerque reports…
According to Albuquerque Police, a cocktail waitress called officers to her home and told them Jones slapped her inappropriately, and pulled her down to his lap and kissed her neck, while she was at work.
The waitress told police he also placed her in a chokehold and picked her up off the ground. When she told him to stop, Jones allegedly kept touching her until he decided to leave. He was then charged with battery.
…court records show Jones failed to show up to a bond arraignment for the battery charge last month. Since he failed to appear, a bench warrant was issued. Online records also show Metro Court tried to send Jones a letter to let him know about the warrant, but it bounced back.
A spokesman for Jones claims that the fighter was not aware of the battery charge until KRQE News brought it to his attention.
“Today, the media told Mr. Jones about a false accusation launched against him and that paperwork had been sent to an incorrect address,” Jones’ spokesman James Hallinan said in a statement. “However, after receiving the documents from the press, Mr. Jones immediately went to pay the small fee, and he, and multiple witnesses, stand ready to factually refute the malicious lies being told about him to the public.”
I’m definitely not in any trouble my friend, don’t be so quick to believe everything you read on the Internet. 🤙🏾 https://t.co/d3GPuRDfpb
— BONY (@JonnyBones) July 22, 2019
I know there’s a whole bunch of people hoping for my downfall but there’s even more who are proud of me and love seeing me do well. And screw staying inside, I love this community.. excited to keep climbing, haters going to be mad when I win in December 😩 https://t.co/dmTH0x2Grv
— BONY (@JonnyBones) July 22, 2019
This is the third time on record that Jones has had a run-in with the law in Albuquerque. The felony hit-and-run that cost him his first title belt happened there in 2015 and in 2016 Jones was pulled over by police in Albuquerque for drag racing and pleaded guilty to unlawful use of modification of exhaust systems and improper display of registration plate. Charges of unlawful drag racing, unlawful exhibition driving, and failure to maintain traffic lane were dropped.
The current misdemeanor charge against Jones carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $500 fine.