“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”. He later turned himself in. The UFC stripped Jones of the 205-pound title and placed him on indefinite suspension on April 28.
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After the crash in April, officers found a pipe with marijuana in the SUV as well as MMA documents in Jones’ name, according to a police report. He was not convicted of a felony and received no fines or fees.
Reebok had stood behind the troubled former UFC star in the past, including after he tested positive for cocaine and entered rehab in January.
“My actions have caused pain and inconvenience in the lives of others and for that I am truly sorry and I accept full responsibility”, Jones said.
As we previously reported, Jones struck another vehicle – injuring a pregnant woman – and then bolted from the scene on foot. Just hours following Jones’ hearing, Cormier expressed a keen interest in a rematch against Jones and believed his punishment was “fair”.
Jones, 28, was given up to 18 months supervised probation and will be required to make 72 speaking appearances. Judge Charles Brown called Jones a “lucky man”. Vanessa Sonnenberg, 25, who was pregnant at the time of the accident, was the driver of the auto Jones struck. Cormier is the division’s “champion” after beating Anthony Johnson in May, and he’s defending his belt this Saturday against ginormous Swede Alexander Gustafsson.
Jon’s lawyer is asking the judge to allow Jones to carry one firearm because he’s concerned about his personal safety. “Bones” was arrested in May 2012 for driving while intoxicated in New York after wrapping his $190,000 Bentley around a telephone pole.
Much has changed since Jones’ eighth title defense at UFC 182 and his suspension four months later.
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Jones has been suspended from the UFC since news of the hit-and-run story first broke, but today’s ruling could pave the way for Jones to return to the Octagon, and indeed Dana White was in attendance in court today to watch Jones make his guilty plea.
