UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been slapped with two misdemeanor charges owing to an alleged altercation with a drug-testing agent earlier this year.
Jones, whose fighting talents have long kept him in the GOAT conversation for mixed martial arts, has frequently fallen foul of the law away from the Octagon. With incidents ranging from arrests for a hit-and-run and domestic violence to multiple drug suspensions, not much time tends to pass by before the former two-time light heavyweight kingpin is back under the spotlight for antics outside of his MMA career.
The latest came a few months back after ABQ Raw News reported that Jones was under investigation for claims he threatened the life and took the mobile phone of a female agent for Drug Free Sport International — the organization that administers the UFC’s new anti-doping program.
A report obtained by Aaron Bronsteter from the Albuquerque Police Department revealed the exact words the UFC star was accused of uttering, with the tester claiming he remarked, “Do you know what happens to people who come to my house? They end up dead.”
Jones was subsequently issued a summons on accusations of assault and interfering with communications.
“Bones” responded to the allegations, insisting the claims were false. While he said the conduct of the drug tester was questionable and a breach of “standard protocol,” Jones insisted that things were left in an amicable and “friendly” fashion. He later posted a video of the final exchanges on that day with the agent in question.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) April 6, 2024
But the latest update has seen Jones charged for the incident and facing potential jail time.
Jon Jones Charged After Drug Tester’s Allegations
This week, MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin reported that Jones has been charged with assault, a petty misdemeanor, and interference with communications, a misdemeanor, with the information coming from Bernalillo County Court representatives.
If convicted of the two charges stemming from the March 30 incident, the UFC heavyweight champ is facing potential jail time and fines that could total $1,500.
Jones’ virtual bond hearing is scheduled 9:15 AM MT on July 17 in New Mexico. There, the Rochester native will be told about the charges handed down and will be asked to give a plea. Conditions of release while the case is pending will then be set by the judge, with a bench trial to follow in 30 to 45 days.
Jones is currently looking ahead toward his first defense of the UFC heavyweight title, which he’s held since a successful divisional debut against Ciryl Gane in Las Vegas last March.
After a planned showdown with Stipe Miocic last November was scrapped owing to an injury to the champ, both Jones and the promotion have opted to keep that matchup together for this year’s Madison Square Garden event rather than “Bones” unifying the belts against interim champ Tom Aspinall.
Before putting his full focus on his sophomore heavyweight outing, however, Jones once again has legal matters to attend to.
