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A warrant had been issued for Anthony Johnson after he missed a court date in relation to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
Former UFC title challenger Anthony Johnson has had an arrest warrant recalled by a court in Palm Beach County, FL. With the warrant recalled Johnson is no longer wanted for arrest.
The warrant was issued on September 25th after Johnson failed to appear for a court appointment that was related to his plea deal with prosecutors over a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
According to court records, Johnson submitted a motion to recall the warrant on October 7th. Bloody Elbow obtained a copy of that motion, which is presented below:
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The motion outlined why Johnson and his legal team believed the court should set aside the warrant. Among the reasoning was that Johnson, “truly misunderstood that once he completed [an anger management] program, his case would be dismissed and that he would no longer have to report”.
The motion also states that the court should recall the warrant because Johnson had complied with all the court’s previous instructions. The court agreed with the motion and recalled the warrant on October 21st.
With the warrant recalled, Johnson is free to continue adhering the court’s wishes in order to fully co-operate and complete the plea agreement he signed on August 23rd. The conditions of that deal were that Johnson complete the anger management course along with a substance abuse evaluation and then pay for the cost of prosecution. Johnson’s plea deal is also contingent on him not contacting his accuser.
This case against Johnson started on May 6th after he was arrested in Boca Raton. A probable cause affidavit stated that police responded to a 911 call from Johnson’s girlfriend. That document then stated that Johnson’s girlfriend said Johnson had picked her up and carried her, against her will, during an argument.
Though this case in Palm Beach County is now official disposed, Johnson is still involved in a pending criminal case in neighboring Broward County. On August 23rd 2018 a ‘dating violence’ case was opened naming Johnson as the respondent. Johnson is the subject of a restraining order filed in Broward County according to Trent Reinsmith of Forbes. That order is set to expire in Februrary 2020.
In 2014 Johnson was subject to a restraining order after he was accused of striking a woman. In 2010 Johnson plead no contest to domestic violence, battery, making death threats and destroying a phone to prevent the reporting of a crime (per MMA Weekly). For those charges Johnson was sentenced to three years probation, community service and was ordered to attend domestic violence counseling.
Johnson last fought in MMA in 2017, in a defeat to Daniel Cormier for the UFC light heavyweight title. Since then Johnson has made non-fighting appearances for Bare Knuckle Fighting Promotion (BKFC). Recently Johnson has been reported to be intending a return to the UFC in 2020.
Support for survivors of domestic violence can be found from the following organizations:
USA – The National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Canada – DAWN-RAFH Canada
UK and Ireland – Women’s Aid: 0808-2000-247
Rest of the World – HotPeachPages