A judge will decide the fate of Jon Jones, but the Bernalillo County District Attorney's office is set to make recommendations in the former UFC champion's probation violation case.
The DA's office will recommend that Jones have his probation revoked and then reinstated with three new conditions: Jones completes a driver improvement course; he agrees to a curfew; and he enrolls in and completes an anger management counseling course, according to the motion document obtained by MMA Fighting on Wednesday. The curfew recommended is between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., unless Jones must leave his home for work purposes.
A no bond bail warrant is also recommended, but Jones is likely to get release terms from judge Michael Martinez on Thursday morning. Jones' hearing at New Mexico Second Judicial District Court is set for 8 a.m. local time. He has been in custody at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center since Tuesday morning.
Judge Martinez will be the ultimate decider in what happens to Jones and his probation. The recommendations can be upheld, dismissed altogether or something in between.
Jones, 28, was pulled over and given five traffic tickets last Thursday night, including one for drag racing. The former UFC light heavyweight champion is denying any wrongdoing. In the video footage from Albuquerque Police Department officer Jason Brown's body camera, an emotional Jones can be heard vehemently denying he was drag racing and calling the cop a "f*cking liar" and "pig." Brown did not diffuse the heated situation, either.
The DA's first motion to revoke probation mentions the incident, saying Jones used "very abusive language towards the citing Officer, and expressed a significant amount of anger and resentment regarding his citations."
Also mentioned in the motion were three traffic tickets Jones received in January that he failed to report to his probation officer for eight days, longer than the 48 hours required. Jones was given 24 more hours of community service for the infraction. The motion says that Jones has reported to all appointments with his probation officer as directed and passed all drug tests in the six months that he has been on probation.
Traffic tickets normally would not be a huge issue, but Jones is on probation following a felony hit-and-run charge stemming from an April 2015 incident. Jones pleaded guilty and was granted a conditional discharge in September. As long as he completed 18 months of probation and 72 appearances of community service, the felony would be wiped clean.
After a warrant was issued for his arrest on probation violation charges following the tickets, Jones turned himself into his probation officer Tuesday morning. He is currently being held in segregation due to his high-profile status, according to a Metropolitan Detention Center official.
Jones is supposed to challenge Daniel Cormier for the UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 197 on April 23 in Las Vegas. The UFC has not commented on whether that fight will be affected by Jones' current situation.