Former UFC Champ Jon Jones Strikes Plea Deal, Avoids Jail Time
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones avoided a potential three-year jail sentence on Tuesday, by pleading guilty to a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident.
The 28-year-old stripped champion entered into a plea deal with the prosecution, which subjects him to 18 months of supervised probation and requires him to make 72 speaking appearances at local Boys and Girls clubs as well as schools in Bernalillo County, N.M., according to Fox Sports.
“Mr. Jones, you got real lucky, and in a number of ways, I think you need to talk to young people because making one stupid decision changes your entire future,” New Mexico Second District Court Judge Charles Brown said to Jones, who was in the courtroom with his attorney. TMZ reported that UFC president Dana White was also at the hearing.
RELATED VIDEO > Daniel Cormier Comments on Jon Jones Legal Woes
Jones was stripped of his UFC belt following his involvement in a felony hit-and-run accident in Albuquerque on April 27, 2015, that left a pregnant motorist injured. He faced a felony charge of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Bodily Harm or Death.
Jones ran a red light and smashed his rented SUV into a car, which, in turn, smashed into another car. The driver of the car he allegedly smashed into suffered a fractured arm and wrist. Jones then fled the scene on foot, reportedly without so much as checking to see if anyone was injured.
During Tuesday's plea hearing, according to Fox Sports, Jones apologized to the driver that he injured, Vanessa Sonnenberg, and took responsibility for his actions.
“I want to apologize to Ms. Sonnenberg's team, all the officers who were involved that day, all the people who support me who I've embarrassed, my family, my supporters, mainly Vanessa Sonnenberg and her family for all the heartache I must have put them through,” Jones said.
“I am here to accept full responsibility for what happened, for my actions, and I'm just really hoping you guys can give me the opportunity to redeem myself.”
As part of the plea deal, Jones has been granted a conditional discharge, which means that if he meets all the terms the judge set for him, he will avoid having a felony go on his record, and he has no travel restrictions placed upon his personal work schedule.
There has been no word yet as to if or when Jones might return to the Octagon.
While he was sidelined dealing with his personal issues, Daniel Cormier won the vacant light heavyweight championship, which he will defend this weekend against Alexander Gustafsson in Houston.
