Jon Jones is facing renewed legal challenges as new charges were filed against him related to a February car accident in New Mexico. The additional criminal complaint, lodged on June 30, contains the same allegation of leaving the scene of an accident that Jones is already contesting, along with a new charge concerning the use of a telephone to harass or intimidate. This development intensifies the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Jones’ conduct after the February incident.
Details from the February Incident and Police Report
The original incident, which took place on February 21, involved a collision between two vehicles. Police found a woman in the front passenger seat who showed signs of heavy intoxication and was missing clothing below the waist. According to the police report, the woman stated that Jones was driving her vehicle at the time of the accident and subsequently fled the scene on foot. The woman later contacted Jones and allowed a police service aide to speak with him over the phone.
Interactions Between Jones and Law Enforcement Following the Accident
The police service aide who spoke with Jones reported that he appeared heavily intoxicated and made statements suggesting he could use lethal force through others. Backup was called, and Officer Andrew Romero arrived to further engage with Jones by phone, during which similar threatening remarks were made. The caller also avoided confirming if it was indeed Jones on the line. When Jones was later contacted by police, he claimed the woman handed the phone to someone she said was a police officer, whose “unprofessional language” made him doubt their authenticity.
Phone Records and Investigation Findings
Police subpoenaed phone records and discovered Jones called the woman involved 13 times between early morning hours. Records also revealed a period during which Jones’ location was unaccounted for, spanning from shortly before the accident until the time it occurred. These findings helped underpin the charges filed against him for leaving the scene of an accident, a misdemeanor offense. Jones has pled not guilty, with a bench trial scheduled for August 14.
New Charges Include Harassment via Telephone Call
The newly filed criminal complaint, which was submitted by Officer Romero, includes not only the duplicate count of leaving the scene but also an added charge for using a telephone to intimidate or harass. An arraignment hearing for this case is set for August 4. However, Jones’ legal team has already responded by filing a motion to dismiss.
Attorney Challenges Duplicate Charges in Motion to Dismiss
Christopher Dodd, Jones’ attorney, argues the second case is improper, as it repeats the same factual allegations as the first. In his motion, Dodd wrote:
“Put simply, Mr. Jones is already facing prosecution in a separate case for the same factual allegations set forth in the criminal complaint in this matter, and it was wholly improper for this separate case to be filed,”
He urged the court to dismiss the new charges, emphasizing that the incidents are identical and the criminal law requires such cases to be joined rather than pursued separately.
Dodd further commented on the apparent lack of coordination among law enforcement in filing charges:
“The incidents at issue in both cases are one and the same. Mr. Jones now is forced to defend himself against two separate cases involves the exact same factual allegations. 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 in the same, this case should be dismissed as Mr. Jones has been impermissibly charged twice for the same underlying incident.”
Current Status and Potential Outcomes for Jones
The case has been assigned to Judge Brittany Maldonado, who has yet to rule on the motion to dismiss. Until a decision is made, the latest criminal complaint remains active, adding to the legal pressures on Jones as he navigates these charges. The bench trial for the first case and the arraignment in the second are scheduled for August, setting a timeline for how this matter may develop in the near future.
Context of Jones’ Career and Recent Decisions
Jon Jones retired from professional mixed martial arts in June, coinciding closely with when the initial charge over the accident surfaced. Despite this, Jones has suggested a possible return to the sport, indicating plans to rejoin the UFC’s anti-doping program after former President Donald Trump announced intentions to host a fight at the White House in 2026. Jones remains a central figure in MMA, and these legal issues cast a shadow over his potential comeback.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What did Jon Jones test positive for?
A. Why was Jon Jones permitted to compete after failing a drug test, and what happens next? In Las Vegas, MMA star Jon Jones failed a test for benzoylecgonine, which is a byproduct of cocaine, in December.
Q. What was Jon Jones tested positive for?
A. During the hearing, it was discovered that Jones tested positive for clomiphene and letrozole metabolites. These substances are found in Tadalafil, a medication for erectile dysfunction, which Jones admitted to using.