Chad Mendes
Authorities with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office plan on moving forward with a battery charge against UFC featherweight Chad Mendes, according to the Hanford Sentinel.
Mendes will be arraigned on September 19, 2012 with the possibility of facing up to a $2,000 fine and up to six-months in jail.
The charge stems from an incident last month at a local bar which saw Mendes sucker punch a patron and then flee the seen with police in pursuit.
In a statement following the incident from Mendes and his Manager, the fighter denied “any wrongdoing” and was looking to clear his name.
It seems the Sheriff’s Department feels differently about the facts that the District Attorney’s office wishes to move ahead with the charge. I guess we will see come Sept. 19 after the arraignment.
Another statement was released by Jeff Meyer, Mendes manager, on Saturday night to MMAFighting.com about charge.
Chad Mendes has been charged with one count of simple misdemeanor battery following an incident that occurred in Hanford, California in July.
Chad has fully cooperated with the Sherriff’s Department investigation. He has not been arrested or otherwise asked to report to Hanford. There are no additional charges against him.
An arraignment has been scheduled for September 19, 2012. Chad continues to deny the sensational allegations contained in the story published on August 3, 2012. He looks forward to having his day in court and telling his side of the story. He asks that the media and his fans remember that he has the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
All questions regarding this matter may be directed to Jacob Flesher, Esq. at the law firm of Flesher, Broomand, McKague LLP in Sacramento, California.
Mendes had his last fight in July at UFC 148, finishing Cody McKenzie by knockout after landing a body punch in the opening exchange of the fight, picking up the win at 31-secodns. The victory was Mendes’ first bout since losing to featherweight champ Jose Aldo in January at UFC 142 in Brazil.