Apparently MMA doesn’t pay if you’re just a regional fighter.
A Fresno, California fighter named John Reedy is facing multiple felony counts including residential burglary and receiving stolen property after neighbors, who witnessed the 29-year-old removing appliances and fixtures from a vacant property Thursday, called police.
According to authorities, Reedy, who fought under the nicknames “Wild Child” and “Cen-Cal Kid” is responsible for a string of burglaries from vacant residential and construction properties over the past few months, including at least three thefts at the location he was caught robbing this week.
Apparently MMA doesn’t pay if you’re just a regional fighter.
A Fresno, California fighter named John Reedy is facing multiple felony counts including residential burglary and receiving stolen property after neighbors, who witnessed the 29-year-old removing appliances and fixtures from a vacant property Thursday, called police.
According to authorities, Reedy, who fought under the nicknames ”Wild Child” and “Cen-Cal Kid” is responsible for a string of burglaries from vacant residential and construction properties over the past few months, including at least three thefts at the location he was caught robbing this week.
“We had vanities. We had lights. We had all kinds of different kitchen appliances. We big flower pots if you will. It was pretty amazing how it all came together.” said Clovis Police spokesperson Janet Stoll-Lee. ”The man saw him on video and one of his colleagues from Leo Wilson Homes and then went and tried to actually stop him from getting away. But he was able to swerve around their vehicles and that’s when officers caught up with him a little bit later on.”
Bail for the 10-3 Palace Fighting Championships and ShoXC vet, whose trio of losses came against UFC, Sengoku, Shooto and MFC vet Brian Cobb, is set at $125,000.
(A homeless man who claimed to be Franca turned himself in last Monday)
More details have emerged in Hermes Franca’s sexual assault case and let’s just say, it doesn’t look good for the former UFC lightweight contender.
According to Fox 12 Oregon, the alleged victim is under the age of 14 and the pair of “unlawful penetration” charges indicate that Franca used an object (or numerous objects) on her.
(A homeless man who claimed to be Franca turned himself in last Monday)
More details have emerged in Hermes Franca’s sexual assault case and let’s just say, it doesn’t look good for the former UFC lightweight contender.
According to Fox 12 Oregon, the alleged victim is under the age of 14 and the pair of “unlawful penetration” charges indicate that Franca used an object (or numerous objects) on her.
“Unlawful sexual penetration” refers to the act of penetrating the vagina, anus or penis of another with any object other than the penis or mouth of the actor. Usually a finger is the “object” used.
“Sexual abuse” usually means touching the sexually intimate parts of another (except in the case of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree). Refer to the definition of “sexual contact” below.
Franca, whose real name is Hermes Franca DeBarros, was set for a bail hearing on Friday, but there’s no word as to whether or not he was granted a release considering he’s a landed immigrant from Brazil who could pose a potential flight risk.
Franca’s lawyer Ryan Corbridge gave FOX 12 the following statement regarding his client:
“Mr. DeBarros was made aware of the allegations a number of weeks ago while in Brazil. He has been in contact with the Clackamas County DA’s office in coordinating compliance with every aspect of the investigation. Mr. DeBarros voluntarily left Brazil and came to Oregon to confront these allegations. Mr. DeBarros maintains his innocence and has faith in the US Justice System.”
According to the report, the seven counts of sexual abuse and two counts of unlawful penetration took place between November 30 and December 31 in Clackamas County, where Franca lived while operating a jiu-jitsu school. He has since moved back to Florida.
Depending on which side you talk to, be it the Maximum Fighting Championship who says Antonio “Mandingo” McKee (25-4-2) “mutually vacated” the lightweight title, or McKee himself, who says he did no such thing, you will obviously get two different stories concerning the status of the belt.
McKee took a fight outside the MFC after successfully […]
Depending on which side you talk to, be it the Maximum Fighting Championship who says Antonio “Mandingo” McKee (25-4-2) “mutually vacated” the lightweight title, or McKee himself, who says he did no such thing, you will obviously get two different stories concerning the status of the belt.
McKee took a fight outside the MFC after successfully defending the title last September, to fight with the UFC last January. “Mandingo” would lose a close split decision to Jacob Volkmann at UFC 125, and was subsequently released after just one appearance with the top promotion. McKee had expected to come back to the MFC, but found out on Facebook that the Canadian promotion was pitting Hermes Franca vs. Drew Fickett for his title.
Speaking on the “Savage Dog Show” with Sherdog.com recently, McKee talked about learning of losing the title and his conversation with MFC President Mark Pavelich.
“It was kind of a shock to me. I had to go get some surgery on my knee and I believe that promoted [MFC President Mark Pavelich] into thinking that I don’t want to fight. I’m like wow, I don’t know if he’s ever looked at my history, but I’ve never pulled out of a fight or walked away from a fight.”
“He said, ‘Right now I’m going in a different direction. I don’t have anybody that really wants to fight you or I want you to fight them right now because it’s over, man. You’re done.’ I’m like, ‘How are you going to tell me I’m done fighting?’”
“Like I told Mark Pavelich, you may take the title away and you may have those guys fight for the title, but there’s no f–king way I’ll give you back the belt,” he said. “Because I’m the champion. You want to be the best in the MFC at 155? Then you have to beat Antonio McKee. By no means did I put the title up for grabs, did I relinquish the belt. Absolutely not.”
With today’s news that Franca was released by the MFC promotion following charges of sexual abuse in Oregon, it’s likely a safe bet that the MFC has called McKee to talk about him fighting Fickett for the title on June 10 at the upcoming MFC 30 event.
“Mandingo” was recently prepared to go to Japan to fight Shinya Aoki at the DREAM: Fight for Japan event, till that bout fell through, meaning McKee is probably in fight shape already and would have just over three weeks to prepare for Fickett.
Press Release – Thursday 19 May, 2011: The Maximum Fighting Championship has terminated the contract of Hermes Franca as a fighter with the organization.
An immediate search is underway to replace Franca who was slated to fight Drew Fickett on Friday, June 10 at MFC 30: Up Close & Personal. Fickett’s new opponent is expected to […]
Press Release – Thursday 19 May, 2011: The Maximum Fighting Championship has terminated the contract of Hermes Franca as a fighter with the organization.
An immediate search is underway to replace Franca who was slated to fight Drew Fickett on Friday, June 10 at MFC 30: Up Close & Personal. Fickett’s new opponent is expected to be announced shortly.
“Mr. Franca’s legal situation is a matter in the hands of law enforcement officials and soon to be going before the courts and because of that there will not be any further comment on those allegations, but I have taken immediate action to indicate that he is no longer going to be part of my organization,” stated MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich.
“We were informed about his arrest and pending trial, and as of 10:30 a.m. MT today, he has been released. These are serious allegations that he is facing and I do not want the Maximum Fighting Championship associated in any way with these matters.”
On top of legal difficulties that were revealed today, Franca twice fought outside of the MFC while under contract with the organization.
“Mr. Franca breached his contract by fighting outside of the organization only 15 days after his bout at MFC 29, and then he fought again six days after that in Brazil and lost,” said Pavelich.
“I find his these actions to be incredibly disrespectful to my company and Mr. Franca is no longer welcome as part of the Maximum Fighting Championship.”
(These latest charges make Franca’s DUI in 2008 look like a jaywalking charge.)
According to a report from Sherdog, nine charges were laid this week against Hermes Franca in relation to a sexual assault that took place in Oregon, where the UFC veteran used to live and run his Team Hermes Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
The 36-year-old native of Fortaleza, Brazil who was arrested in 2008 for a DUI, flew from Florida, where he now lives and trains to turn himself in on Monday. He is charged with seven counts of sexual abuse in the first degree and two counts of unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree. Franca’s trial is scheduled for July 12 at 9 a.m. in the Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Oregon. His bail was set at $250,000.
(These latest charges make Franca’s DUI in 2008 look like a jaywalking charge.)
According to a report from Sherdog, nine charges were laid this week against Hermes Franca in relation to a sexual assault that took place in Oregon, where the UFC veteran used to live and run his Team Hermes Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
The 36-year-old native of Fortaleza, Brazil who was arrested in 2008 for a DUI, flew from Florida, where he now lives and trains to turn himself in on Monday. He is charged with seven counts of sexual abuse in the first degree and two counts of unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree. Franca’s trial is scheduled for July 12 at 9 a.m. in the Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Oregon. His bail was set at $250,000.
Acting swiftly to the news, Maximum Fighting president Mark Pavelich released a statement today stating that he has terminated Franca’s contract with his organization as a result of the allegations against him. Pavelich also said that he is currently seeking a new opponent to replace him in his upcoming MFC 29 main event lightweight title fight with Drew Fickett, which could mean Antonio McKee might be brought back into the fold to fight for the title he never vacated in the first place.
“Mr. Franca’s legal situation is a matter in the hands of law enforcement officials and soon to be going before the courts and because of that there will not be any further comment on those allegations, but I have taken immediate action to indicate that he is no longer going to be part of my organization. We were informed about his arrest and pending trial, and as of 10:30 a.m. MT today, he has been released, Pavelich said via email. “These are serious allegations that he is facing and I do not want the Maximum Fighting Championship associated in any way with these matters.”
Former UFC veteran, and current MFC lightweight contender, Hermes França (22-12, 1NC) was arrested in Oregon this past Monday night. He is charged with “seven counts of Sexual Abuse in the first degree as well as two counts of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the second degree.”
News of França’s arrest first surfaced on the Examiner.com, […]
Former UFC veteran, and current MFC lightweight contender, Hermes França (22-12, 1NC) was arrested in Oregon this past Monday night. He is charged with “seven counts of Sexual Abuse in the first degree as well as two counts of Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the second degree.”
News of França’s arrest first surfaced on the Examiner.com, and was confirmed by Sherdog.com who spoke to a source close to the fighter, as well as the Clackamas County Jail in Oregon. His bail has been set at $250,000, with a trial date set for July 12 at the Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Ore.
According to the Examiner.com, each crime carry’s a minimum sentence of 75 months. França has pled not guilty to all nine counts.
The Brazilian learned of the charges while in Brazil at a International Fighter Championship event. He then returned to Florida after seeking legal counsel, and then flew back to Portland on Monday to turn himself in.
França is scheduled to face Drew Fickett on June 10 for the MFC lightweight title in the headliner of the MFC 30 event in Edmonton, Alberta.
