Jones makes first court appearance, no plea entered, remains free on bond
Jon Jones entered no plea in court today as the DA has yet to issue an indictment. The judge required Jones to meet the ‘standard conditions for release.’
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones appeared in court for the first time, following his arrest for a hit and run accident on Sunday that left a pregnant woman with a broken arm. Jones stands accused of leaving an accident involving death or personal injuries; the felony charge has a penalty of up to three years in prison.
Because the Bernadillo County District Attorney’s office has not indicted him yet, he did not enter a plea.
The Bernalillo County (NM) Metropolitan Court judge required Jones to meet the ‘standard conditions for release’:
•No alcohol;
•No drugs;
•No entering a liquor store; and
•The fighter has to stay in contact with his attorney.
The DA has 60 days to indict. Should they decide to, as this is a felony case, a grand jury hearing will be convened to decide if there is evidence sufficient to go forward with an indictment.
At present, Jones remains free on the $2,500 bond he posted Monday. Further, as Jones’ attorney Vincent Ward explicitly requested, no travel restrictions have been placed on Jones. This means there is no legal prohibition at present tohis fighting Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
Either the UFC or the Nevada State Athletic Commission may pull Jones from the fight. As Erik Magraken details in his Combat Sports Law blog, the NSAC would have to determine that Jones was arrested for a crime involving moral turpitude. The UFC has a contract with Jones to fight on that date, and they would have to argue that he breached the Fighter Conduct Policy.
Thus far the UFC has said no decision has been made, as they are still gathering facts about the incident.
UFC president Dana White, CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, and COO Lawrence Epstein all flew to Albuquerque on Tuesday for a meeting with Jones and his legal team. The organization is expected to issue a statement late Tuesday or possible Wednesday, on whether Jones is pulled from UFC 187.