Jon ‘Bones’ Jones pleads no contest to charge
Judge orders UFC champ not to return to club cited in summons
Albuquerque-based UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones pleaded no contest Tuesday to disorderly conduct in connection with a dispute at an Albuquerque strip club in April.
As part of the plea deal, Jones, 33, will have the case dismissed if he isn’t arrested or found to have otherwise violated the law in the next 90 days, said Metropolitan Court Judge Victor Valdez, who presided over Jones’ court appearance on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said in a statement Tuesday that numerous witnesses didn’t corroborate the initial statements included in the criminal summons filed against Jones, and that Jones’ accuser didn’t want to pursue a battery case against him.
“It was determined there was not enough evidence to proceed with the petty misdemeanor charge of battery under New Mexico state law,” Michael Patrick, a spokesman for the district attorney, said in a statement.
Valdez ordered that while the case is still pending Jones not enter the club where the altercation happened: TD’s Eubank Showclub.
According to a criminal summons, Jones and his brother were drinking at the strip club throughout the day on April 19, and Jones asked his cocktail waitress for a table dance. When the waitress told him no, she told police that Jones started “roughhousing with her” by putting her in a choke hold and slapping at her genitals, according to the summons.
She reported the incident to Albuquerque police later that night and a summons was issued for Jones.
Jones most recently defended his light heavyweight title with a split decision victory in July. The fighter lives in Albuquerque and trains at Jackson Wink MMA Academy.