Jon Jones Facing Felony Charges

[Lunchbox]

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is facing a felony charge in connection to a hit-and-run incident that he was allegedly involved in Sunday morning in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson Tanner Tixier confirmed to ESPN.com that the 25-year-old pregnant woman driving the car Jones allegedly struck in Southeast Albuquerque has suffered a broken arm. Prior to knowledge of the injury, Jones was facing a potential misdemeanor.

 

"The preliminary statement that the woman suffered 'non-serious' injury was not entirely accurate," Tixier said. "She did suffer a broken arm. That is confirmed."

UFC champion Jon Jones is facing a felony charge for leaving the scene of a hit-and-run accident. Brandon Magnus/Getty Images

 

The police department is still waiting for Jones to turn himself into custody. Jones will be charged with leaving the scene of a crime, a felony charge that potentially carries jail time, according to Tixier.

 

According to the police report, witnesses saw a man fitting Jones' description leave the silver SUV that struck the woman's vehicle before stopping and returning to the car to grab a "large handful of cash." Jones then "shoved the cash into his pants" and fled the scene.

 

Tixier identified the vehicle Jones left behind as a rental. A marijuana pipe with marijuana inside it was found in the car. No other drugs were found.

 

Officers attempted to contact Jones at his residence in Albuquerque on Sunday but were unsuccessful. Jones moved to Albuquerque, the base of his longtime gym, Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA, full time earlier this year.

 

Albuquerque PD spokesman Simon Drobik said Jones is facing a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge and would be liable for damages to the vehicles involved and the medical costs for the woman.

 

Jones (21-1) is scheduled to defend his 205-pound title defense against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 on May 23 in Las Vegas. The UFC has not announced a change on the card, and representatives for Johnson have told ESPN.com they have not been notified of a change in opponent.

 

UFC released a statement Sunday night that read: "We are aware that the Albuquerque Police Department is interested in speaking to Jon Jones regarding his possible involvement in a motor vehicle accident. We are in the process of gathering facts and will reserve further comment until more information is available."

 

ESPN reached out to Jones' camp for comment Sunday night, but the camp has yet to respond.

 

In May 2012, Jones was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after he crashed his Bentley into a telephone pole in Binghamton, New York. Jones pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DWI charge and avoided jail time.

 

In early December, Jones tested positive for metabolites of cocaine while training for his bout against Daniel Cormier. Jones was allowed to compete because the test was conducted out of competition, and he beat Cormier at UFC 182.

 

When the failed drug test became public, Jones publicly apologized for a "mistake" and spent one day in a drug rehabilitation center before checking himself out.

 

Jones has defended his belt eight times since becoming the youngest champion in UFC history in March 2011.

Dude needs to get his shit together. He could be the greastest of all time but hes starting to show a shit ton of mistakes outside the ring. The UFC needs to hold him accountable. Its prety obvious he was doing *censored*ed up stuff and hid just to flush whatever was in his body out.

[Muur]

What an idiot