Jon Jones, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, was given a conditional discharge and 18 months probation on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident in a plea bargain Tuesday morning.
Judge Charles Brown ordered Jones to make at least 72 appearances for both charity and speaking with children over the probation period. Once he fulfills the terms of the probation, he will be brought back to court and given a conditional discharge and would not have a felony conviction on his record.
Jones was arrested from an incident on 4/26 on charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious injury when he crashed a rented SUV into a car driven by a pregnant woman, Vanessa Sonnenberg. Sonnenberg suffered a broken arm but has made a full recovery.
Jones was suspended and stripped of his title The police report indicated Jones ran a red light and struck Sonnenberg’s car. He left the scene, but then returned to grab a handful of money, and then ran away over a fence. Jones disappeared for about 24 hours before turning himself in. A marijuana pipe was found in the car.
UFC president Dana White, who was in court this morning with Jones, has said that Jones would get a shot at the title that he never lost in the cage, as soon as he was ready to return.