Jon
Jones will no longer face charges for an alleged altercation
with a drug testing agent from Drug Free Sport International at his
Albuquerque, New Mexico, home earlier this year.
Advertisement
On Tuesday, the
UFC heavyweight champion reached a pre-adjudication agreement
to dismiss the misdemeanor charges of assault and interference with
communications stemming from that incident. Judge Asra I. Elliott
approved the agreement between the defense and prosecutors provided
that Jones completes four hours of anger management and avoids
legal trouble for the next 90 days. Jones attended the hearing with
attorney Christopher Dodd via Zoom.
Jones released a statement on social media shortly after the
hearing.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the justice system for
reaching a prompt resolution in this matter, which affirms my
innocence and enables me to maintain my focus on the upcoming
fight,” Jones wrote. “I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to
defend my heavyweight title on Nov. 16.”
I would like to extend my thanks to the
justice system for reaching a prompt resolution in this matter,
which affirms my innocence and enables me to maintain my focus on
the upcoming fight. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to
defend my heavyweight title on November 16th…— BONY (@JonnyBones)
October 29, 2024
The case stems from an
incident between Jones and agents from Drug Free Sport
International (DFSI), the UFC’s new anti-doping partner. According
to a police report, the drug-testing agent, who was identified as
Crystal Martinez, entered Jones’ home on March 30 to collect a
sample as part of the UFC’s anti-doping program. Martinez alleged
that Jones was cooperative at first but became agitated when he was
unable to initially provide a urine sample. When Martinez suggested
taking a blood sample instead, Jones threatened to sue, took her
phone and began recording Martinez and her co-worker. According to
the report, Jones then put the phone in his pocket and got in
Martinez’s face.
Martinez told police she was “terrified” but elected to continue
with the drug-testing process because she didn’t want to further
anger Jones due to potential penalties from the UFC. Jones was
eventually able to provide a urine sample, and Martinez obtained
her phone during that period. Martinez texted her boss, who was
identified as Pierson Laughlin, regarding her concerns but was
unwilling to talk to Laughlin because she was afraid Jones “would
attack her if he saw her on the phone.”
Jones, meanwhile, responded with a statement of his own where he
denied threatening the agents and said that the encounter ended
“friendly and amicably.” Jones
admitted to police in statement that he was “bothered” by the
arrival of the agents and did use profanity during the sample
collection process. However, he reiterated that he never threatened
anyone during the incident.
Martinez also virtually attended the hearing on Tuesday but did not
speak during the proceedings.
Jones is slated to return to action for the first time since March
2023 when he defends his heavyweight belt against Stipe
Miocic in the UFC 309