What is Jon Jones charged with? All we know about the UFC star's latest legal battle [July 2024]
Jon Jones may have found himself in legal hot water again. The reigning UFC heavyweight champion was reportedly involved in an altercation with a drug-testing officer earlier this year after he allegedly got agitated when asked to submit a random sample.
This isn't Jones' first run-in with the law, and he has a history of controversies surrounding his behavior outside the cage. Apart from the suspensions he's been handed due to doping violations, 'Bones' has been arrested multiple times for various grave offenses, including a hit-and-run incident, aggravated DUI, and domestic violence.
What is Jon Jones charged with?
Two agents from Drug Free Sport visited Jon Jones in March to collect a testing sample. Jones was allegedly unable to provide a urine sample and seemingly got agitated when offered a blood test option. After issuing threats to the two agents, he reportedly grabbed one of the officers' phones and began recording them.
In a report by MMA Fighting, the agent, Crystal Martinez, recalled being terrified of the UFC heavyweight champion standing less than a foot away during the ordeal in her police statement. It's worth noting that Jones has denied these allegations and has issued a statement clarifying his side of the story.
Nevertheless, 'Bones' has been charged with two misdemeanors - an assault charge (petty misdemeanor) and interference with communications (misdemeanor). If found guilty, the legendary UFC champion could be jailed for less than a year, a $500 fine for the petty misdemeanor, and a $1000 fine for the misdemeanor.
According to the same report, Jones has a virtual bond hearing scheduled for July 17 in New Mexico, which Bernalillo County Court representatives confirmed. As mentioned above, Jones has a history of run-ins with the law, and this is another addition to his list of controversies.
Jones last competed in the octagon at UFC 285 in March 2023, when he captured the vacant UFC heavyweight title off Ciryl Gane via first-round submission. While he was booked to fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 last November, 'Bones' was forced to pull out due to a pectoral injury sustained during training. The bout was postponed indefinitely, with many expecting it to go down later this year.