On Tuesday, popular UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage†Jackson was arrested on three criminal charges following a wild car ride in Costa Mesa, California. Many questions linger about Jackson’s fighting future, including how the UFC will react to the situation. However, the most pressing question is what criminal punishment Jackson might receive for these charges.
The Costa Mesa Police Department confirmed to MMAPayout.com that the charges against Jackson are being brought under California Penal Code 148(a)(1), California Penal Code 20002(a) and California Vehicle Code 23103.
The first charge is the most serious, a felony evading charge that can bring an up to $1,000 fine, up to one year in jail time, or both. A person who “willfully resists, delays, or obstructs any public officer†may be convicted under the statute.
The second charge is for a hit and run because Jackson did not immediately stop his vehicle following a car accident. The charge carries with it a potential sentence of an up to $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail time, or both.
The third charge is for reckless driving, where someone “drives a vehicle upon a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.†It carries a potential sentence of 5-90 days in jail, a fine of $145-$1,000 or both.
The Costa Mesa District Attorney also has the discretion to add additional charges. The two most likely potential changes to the charges would involve the hit and run aspect and a potential driving under the influence charge.
While Jackson has been charged under California Penal Code 20002(a), that statute assumes that there was only damage to a vehicle. California Penal Code 20001(a) applies to a hit and run where there is injury to a person, and the Daily Pilot reports that a woman involved in the first hit and run is claiming injuries. If the District Attorney decides that there is sufficient injury to change that charge, the penalty would be up to a year of jail time rather than up to six months.
Peter Arenella has served as a Professor of Criminal Law at UCLA School of Law for over 20 years, and he notes that if victim Holli Griggs has evidence of physical injuries, the charge could potentially change.
“I would expect a low threshold – any injury at all,†Arenella noted to MMAPayout.com. “Obviously not a scrape, but any physical injury that involved any function of the body. If she has documentation of such injuries, the prosecutor could always up the charge down the road. It’s possible they didn’t know about the injuries.â€
An additional charge could potentially come under California Vehicle Code 23152, driving under the influence. Jackson has not been charged of yet, but it is possible the district attorney is waiting for test results before charging. If Jackson was using prescription drugs, he could still be charged under that statute.
That is likely the extent of the legal problems Jackson is facing. Beyond those charges, it is unlikely additional charges would be added given that nobody was seriously injured.
The question then becomes what sentence Jackson would likely receive if convicted of the charges. Under the current charges, Jackson faces a potential 21 months in prison. However, it is extremely unlikely Jackson would receive anything close to that sentence. In a case involving multiple charges, the judge is going to focus on the most serious one.
“The key is on the most serious crime,†Prof. Arenella told MMAPayout.com. “If he is convicted of the most serious crime, they aren’t going to lump on sentencing for smaller crimes. We’re looking at a maximum of a year. And if he’s a first time offender, we’re looking at just a fine or small jail time.â€
The Orange County District Attorney does not release prior criminal records, but Jackson is not believed to have any significant criminal past. Jackson traveled for many years to Japan, which has strict rules preventing convicted felons from entering the country. Assuming Jackson’s past record is clear, he will be in a good position to ask for a lenient sentence.
A final concern is Jackson’s mental health. If this issue comes up, it is significantly more likely to be a mitigating factor than an aggravating factor in sentencing. Mental health won’t affect the charges, but it could potentially lead to a lighter sentence if Jackson’s lawyers successfully argue that Jackson’s behavior was the product of mental factors beyond his control at the time.
Given the confluence of these factors, Jackson should be able to focus more on getting his life and career back on track and less on the future criminal ramifications of his conduct Tuesday. However, there is one potential X-factor facing Jackson heading forward.
“If there is a lot of media attention for the case and you get the wrong judge,†Prof. Arenella told MMAPayout.com. “The judge might be concerned about the perception of giving a ‘slap on the wrist.’ He or she might overreact and give a larger sentence.â€
Todd Martin is a licensed attorney in the state of California and Special Contributor to MMAPayout.com. He received his BA from Vassar College and his JD from UCLA School of Law. He has followed the business of MMA since its inception and has written about the business for a variety of publications including the Los Angeles Times, SI.com and CBSSports.com. He also provides professional consulting work on the MMA industry.