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Former UFC undisputed heavyweight champion Jon Jones was hit with a new misdemeanor criminal charge amid his sudden retirement on Saturday (June 21), the Albuquerque Journal reports.
Jones, 37, is accused of leaving the scene of an accident stemming a February 21 incident and is scheduled for a bond arraignment hearing on July 24, according to a criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court on Tuesday (June 17). A police officer reportedly responded to a crash and found a woman described as being significantly intoxicated and not wearing clothes below the waste in the front passenger seat of a vehicle she claimed was driven by Jones, who fled the scene.
The woman later told police that she had alcohol and mushrooms with Jones at his house prior to the crash and recalled needing to change her clothes before blacking out. The woman claimed the next thing she remembered was being at the scene of the crash.
A police service aide allegedly spoke to a man on the phone later confirmed to be Jones while at the scene, though the man didn't answer questions regarding his identity at the time. The man allegedly “appeared to be heavily intoxicated and made statements implying his capacity to employ lethal force through third parties,” and "allusions to violence" continued during the phone call despite the police service aide calling for backup, according to records obtained by the Albuquerque Journal.
Jones interviewed with police in-person days after the crash and allegedly confirmed the woman left his home intoxicated and called him after the crash. The fighter also claimed that the person he spoke to during the prior phone call "immediately opened the conversations with unprofessional language, which led him to doubt the legitimacy of the individual’s claim."
Jones was charged on February 24, three days after the alleged incident took place, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The 37-year-old confirmed UFC CEO Dana White's announcement of his retirement on Saturday, which resulted in Tom Aspinall being named as the undisputed heavyweight champion, in a post shared on his X account.
"Today, I’m officially announcing my retirement from the UFC," Jones wrote. "This decision comes after a lot of reflection, and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the journey I’ve experienced over the years. From the first time I stepped into the Octagon, my goal was to push the boundaries of what was possible in this sport. Becoming the youngest UFC champion in history, defending my title against some of the best fighters in the world, and sharing unforgettable moments with fans across the globe—these are memories I’ll cherish forever. I’ve faced incredible highs and some tough lows, but every challenge has taught me something valuable and made me stronger, both as a fighter and as a person."
Jones is widely regarded as the greatest fighter in UFC history during a career that coincided with legal issues including arrests for DUI, hit-and-run and domestic violence, as well as several failed drug tests.