James Lee Mein, the father of UFC welterweight Jordan Mein, pleaded not guilty in a Tulsa, OK court Thursday to a charge of one count sexual battery, according to his lawyer Jason Edge.
Mein, who was arrested on Aug. 22 in Tulsa, a day before his son fought Mike Pyle at UFC Fight Night 49, was officially charged on Sept. 10. A preliminary hearing has been set for Oct. 23.
The 47-year-old Mein was accused of assaulting a female maid at a hotel prior to the UFN 49 weigh-ins. He was subsequently arrested and released on $2,000 surety bond hours later, however, the UFC barred Mein from cornering his son Jordan the next night. If the arrest was any kind of distraction for Jordan Mein he didn’t show it, as the rising star needed just 72 seconds to beat Pyle via TKO.
“[Lee] insists this did not happen, hence the not guilty plea,” Edge said. “He insists he’s being wrongfully accused.”
Lee Mein is still an active MMA fighter with a 6-13 record. The native of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, who also owns the Canadian Martial Arts Centre, most recently lost to Tim Hague via first-round TKO at WSOF Canada in February.