Jon Jones is back in the headlines and not for a UFC return. The former heavyweight champion is set for two bench trials tied to an incident that took place in February, when he was accused of fleeing the scene of a car accident.
According to court records, Jones will first appear on August 14 for a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident. His second bench trial is scheduled for September 2 and carries the same charge, along with an additional misdemeanor for “Use of Telephone to Terrify, Intimidate, Threaten, Harass, Annoy or Offend.”
The second case was filed after the original charge, stemming from the same event. Jones’ attorney, Christopher Dodd, filed a motion to dismiss the latter, arguing that the UFC legend is essentially being charged twice for the same incident.
“The incidents at issue in both cases are one and the same. Mr. Jones now is forced to defend himself against two separate cases involving the exact same factual allegations,” Dodd wrote. “It is unknown why an Albuquerque Police Department detective and an Albuquerque Police Department officer who were both involved in the investigation of this case would not communicate and coordinate who would file charges, but that seems to be what happened, unless the truth is that these law enforcement officers intentionally violated the same mandatory joinder rule for some improper strategic purpose.
“Either way, the result is the same; this case should be dismissed as Mr. Jones has been impermissibly charged twice for the same underlying incident.”
So far, the judge hasn’t ruled on the motion, and until that happens, Jon Jones is expected to appear virtually for the September 2 trial.
The charges are a result of a crash reported in February. Police arrived at the scene to find a woman in the passenger seat of a wrecked vehicle, “exhibiting signs of significant intoxication and lacking clothing from the waist down.”
According to her, Jones had been driving and fled the scene on foot. Authorities then attempted to contact Jones. One police service aide stated that the man on the phone “appeared to be heavily intoxicated and made statements implying his capacity to employ lethal force through third parties.” The individual refused to confirm their identity, but when police eventually got hold of Jones, he claimed the caller had opened with “unprofessional language,” causing him to question whether it was really law enforcement.
That phone call led to the second charge filed against him.
Jon Jones has had a long, troubled history with the law despite a legendary fighting career. Widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, Jones’ legacy continues to be tested by controversies outside the cage.
In June, Jones announced his retirement from the sport and vacated his title. However, he has since re-entered the UFC’s anti-doping pool, signaling plans to return in time for the UFC’s ambitious White House event in 2026.
