“The UFC organization is aware that Jon Jones reached a plea agreement with authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico this morning stemming form charges associated with a motor vehicle accident earlier this year”.
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Judge Charles Brown ordered Jones, who trains in Albuquerque, to serve 72 weeks of probation and make 72 appearances speaking to local youth. The woman suffered a broken arm and Jones is said to have fled the scene on foot.
He was stripped of his light-heavyweight title after the incident, in which drug paraphernalia was found and he was seen grabbing a bundle of cash from his vehicle. Jones’ attorney Vincent Ward said Tuesday that the victim has fully recovered and sustained no permanent damage.
Jones’ attorney stressed the importance of avoiding a felony conviction because it could prevent Jones from traveling out of the country or fighting in a casino where the UFC holds many of their shows. Jones also tested positive for cocaine in January, was fined $25,000 by the UFC and spent a day in a rehabilitation facility. He made eight defenses against a murderer’s row of opponents, including Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Alexander Gustafsson, Vitor Belfort, and Daniel Cormier, before the accident forced him to vacate his title this spring.
Jones apologizes to the court, to the victim and the officers.
That fight will headline UFC 192, which will be hosted by the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
During Tuesday’s plea hearing, according to Fox Sports, Jones apologized to the driver that he injured, Vanessa Sonnenberg, and took responsibility for his actions. What’s exciting is that Jones might be able to start the next phase of his career in his home state of New York, at Madison Square Garden.
Jon Jones will not serve any jail time. Brown accepted Jones’ plea without adjudication and granted the fighter a conditional discharge. He also called the incident a “wake-up call” for the 28-year-old.
“I am here to accept full responsibility for what happened, and I hope you can give me an opportunity to redeem myself”, Jones said during the hearing, which UFC President Dana White attended.
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Jon Jones may be returning to the UFC soon after a court decision.
