The ongoing coronavirus pandemic could throw a curveball on Jon Jones’ current legal battle.
The reigning UFC light heavyweight champion faces another legal mishap after getting arrested last Thursday in Albuquerque due to aggravated DWI (driving while intoxicated) and three other misdemeanors.
Next month, he is set to attend a bond arraignment hearing, as per Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Michael Patrick.
But according to Erlinda Johnson, a veteran defense attorney in New Mexico, Jones’ case could potentially be dismissed, with local courts currently closed due to the COVD-19 outbreak.
“If he isn’t brought to trail by a certain time, his case could potentially be dismissed,” she told MMA Fighting.
“If the state doesn’t produce the witnesses, or the officers because they’re being used for the more pressing national health matters, there are a lot of different issues litigating the case.”
Second-Time Offender
However, Johnson doubts the prosecutors will go light on the 32-year old fighter, given his popularity.
Jones is regarded by many as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all-time and most recently defended his light heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes for his fourth-straight title fight victory since returning to the Octagon in December 2018.
“(They) may not want to be perceived as dismissing a case because somebody’s famous, and using the excuse of the national health emergency as the reason for the dismissal,” Johnson added.
If the case isn’t dismissed, Jones could be facing more serious trouble as prosecutors could use his 2012 DUI conviction against him, according to criminal defense specialist David Serna.
“It allows the prosecutor to make a strong argument, look how many opportunities he’s had to modify his behavior, and look how every time he’s been given an opportunity, he thumbs his nose and does what he pleases.”
Bad Luck
With this, the punishment for Jones could be more severe than expected.
“I would think that the judge would probably give the guy some time, because the judge would look at the prior history and see the guy has been given break after break and may say now’s the time you’re going to be held accountable,” Serna continued.
“It’s a bad luck thing when the initial cop that stops you happens to be a member of the DWI unit.
“Who knows, he may have had a thing out for this defendant. I’d be surprised if the (defense) lawyers don’t argue there was some pretext or vindictive prosecution, just because he’s had run-ins with this same guy before.”
“I think the defense would certainly assert that this particular cop is after this particular guy.”
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