Quinton Jackson pleads not guilty
August 28, 2008 by Sam Caplan
The arraignment of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was held earlier today in Santa Ana, Calif with the former UFC light heavyweight champion pleading not guilty to felony counts of evading a peace officer and evading a peace officer against traffic, according to the Associated Press. He also reportedly pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of hit-and-run and reckless driving,
The AP is also stating that another court hearing has been scheduled for Jackson on Sept. 9 and that he is currently free on $25,000 bond.
Jackson had been formally charged with on Monday upon the completion of a six-week investigation by the Costa Mesa Police Department stemming from an alleged incident on July 15 in which Jackson is accused of leading law enforcement officials on a high-speed chase following a series of traffic crashes.
At the time of the incident, a spokesman with the Costa Mesa Police Department stated to FiveOuncesOfPain.com that there were no serious injuries sustained as a result of the crashes. However, a few days later the Daily Pilot reported that 38-year old Holli Griggs and her unborn child were hospitalized and had received treatment following the collision.
Several weeks later Griggs’ fiance revealed that she had miscarried.
Jackson appears to be in the clear of charges relating to the loss of Griggs’ unborn child. The Daily Pilot quoted a spokeswoman with the Orange County District Attorney’s office earlier this week that evidence shows that the collision with Jackson was not the cause of Griggs’ miscarriage.
“The evidence showed that [the crash] was in no way related to the loss of the fetus,” Orange County DA spokewoman Farrah Emami is quoted as saying. “There is no evidence that that was the case.”
As of now, Jackson’s return to the Octagon is uncertain. However, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was quoted in an interview with Brazilian website Tatame earlier this week as indicating that his next opponent could be Jackson in December.
“They said that I might fight with Quinton Jackson, but nothing has been signed yet,” Tatame quoted Rua as saying. “They (UFC) called me and offered a fight with him and I accepted, but they didn’t say anything else more”
Good news. I can’t fully blame him, because his mind was certainly not there. Now that that’s done, let’s get that belt back!
How can he plead not guilty….is he drunk on energy drinks again….he has admitted his guilt already, and blammed it on no sleep, blah…blah..blah…Come on Page, Man-up and admit your guilt and move on. He should be extreamly thankful that no one got seriously hurt, that Dana didn’t give him the boot and that his fans are still supporting him, next thing we know he will be car-pooling with OJ!!!
Judge: Mr. Jackson how do you plea?
Rampage: Not guilty your honour.
Judge: Really?
Rampage: Yes you honour. Not guilty.
Judge: But the truck had your name written on the side of it…
Rampage: Not guilty your honour.
Judge: …and your picture on the side…
Rampage: Yes your honour.
Judge: …and the pictures on tmz, they were you, no?
Rampage: Yes your honour.
Judge: …. Plea accepted. *giggle*
it gives his lawyers time to get a plea bargain done with the da to reduce/eliminate the charges. the rich and the famous rarely plead guilty.
DA: What do you do for a living Mr. Jackson?
Jackson: I’m a professional fighter.
DA: Do you have a nick name?
Jackson: “Rampage”
DA: Rampage…. You plead NOT guilty. So you, “RAMPAGE”, a professional fighter, did not drive recklessly, commit and hit and run, and evade the police in a big truck with your face on it while photographers took photos of you doing it? Thank you RAMPAGE.
No more questions your honor.
It’s not just “rich” or “famous” people that plea not guilty to things like this it’s everyone who wants to try to plea bargain for a lesser charge. If he admitted guilt then there would be no court and nothing to try to negotiate for lesser charges, he would just go straight to sentencing. Besides Jackson can change his plea to guilty at any time but it’s hard to go the other way once you’ve admitted guilty.
I doubt this will even make it to a trial, the DA’s office and Jackson’s lawyer will probably negotiate for lesser charges long before that.
LISTEN, THERE IS ONLY 1 FIGHT THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WANT AND WILL ANSWER ALL……..AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BJ PENN AS MUCH AS HE IS GOOD……..THE REAL FIGHT THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT TOGETHER IS GSP VS SILVA!!!!