John Jones Faces Charges in Car Accident Case Amid Retirement Announcement

UFC star John “Bones” Jones has been accused of fleeing the scene of a car accident that occurred in February, just before he unexpectedly announced his retirement. The reasons behind the delay in filing the criminal charges—four months later—remain unclear, but they were officially submitted last Tuesday in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. A bond hearing for Jones is set for July 24, with the charges classified as a misdemeanor in New Mexico.

The complaint details a scenario where authorities responded to a crash involving a woman who was reportedly intoxicated and not wearing clothes from the waist down. She asserts that Jones was driving the vehicle when he left the scene. The Albuquerque Journal covered this incident.

According to the woman’s account, she claimed Jones had consumed both alcohol and psychedelic mushrooms at his home before the crash, and she later needed to change clothes. The last thing she recalls is being at the accident site.

It appears that a police aide spoke to a person thought to be Jones after the woman called him from the scene, but this individual didn’t identify himself when questioned.

In the alleged conversation, the complaint suggests that the person believed to be Jones seemed severely intoxicated, making a remark that hinted at his ability to use force through others.

Days after the incident, Jones was interviewed and purportedly confirmed that the woman had left his home while drunk and had called him post-accident.

Throughout his UFC career, Jones has encountered numerous legal difficulties, and this situation adds to that history. His performances, while outstanding, have often been overshadowed by off-the-ring controversies.

On Saturday, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Jones contacted the organization to say he would be retiring, effectively vacating the heavyweight championship title in favor of Tom Aspinall. “John Jones called us last night and officially retired,” White stated.

In his own social media announcement, Jones reflected on his decision, expressing gratitude for the experiences he’s had over the years. “This decision comes after many reflections,” he mentioned.

Jones’s UFC career ended with an impressive record of 28 wins and a single loss. His last fight resulted in a TKO victory against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November.