Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson pleads not guilty to charges
by MMAmania.com on Aug 28, 2008 9:26 PM EDT
63 comments
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson was again in court today, pleading not guilty to all six charges that were handed down earlier this week in regard to his delirium-fueled, police-chase motor vehicle escapade that took place last month in California.
The 30-year-old Tennessee native faces two felony counts (evading while driving recklessly and evading a peace officer and driving against traffic) and four other misdemeanors. If convicted on all counts Jackson faces a three-year maximum prison sentence.
Jackson is free on a $25,000 bond; however, he has two upcoming court hearings already set up for October 3 and November 9. There's no telling if either of those dates will interfere with his possible next appearance inside the Octagon at UFC 91 in Portland, Ore., on November 15.
After the arraignment, the born again Christian spoke to the Orange-County Register and provided more context behind his bizarre behavior. He was essentially on a mission from God.
Here's a snip
"I thought I heard the voice of God telling me to go save Brian. I felt if I didn't get to Brian, he would die.... What was I thinking? l know now that Brian was never in danger.… But I really thought at the time that he was about to die."
Jackson also revealed that a "betrayal" of someone close to him who he caught cheating him out of money -- someone he considered a father figure -- triggered the sleepless energy-drink bender that eventually led to the chase.
He refused to name a name; however, Jackson split with long-time trainer and mentor, Juanito Ibarra, prior to the incident. He now trains primarily at Wolfslair Academy in the United Kingdom.
For more on this issue feel free to check out our Quinton "Rampage" Jackson archive right here -- everything you need to get up to speed on this story can be found there.
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Oh oh. If you go to the Orange County Register you can read what his lawyer is saying:
“Lavacot said that Jackson, because of his mental state, was unaware that he was breaking any laws during the chase.
“The law says you have to have criminal intent. He didn’t have it,” Lavacot said.
“You can analogize this to somebody whose child is dying,” she added. “Are they going to slow down or stop and wait for an ambulance? Or are they going to do everything they can to get that child to the hospital?”"
But Rampage didn’t have a child who was dying. I really hope that he comes up with something better than that, or that he gets a better lawyer.
by zulu9812 on Aug 28, 2008 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
from the article it seems that he thought Brian was in danger. But who is Brian, is that rampage’s son? Anyway, if this is true I’m sure he would have told something like this to the police officers that arrested him that day, something like Brian is in danger, you guys need to rescue Brian!. If the police officers didn’t hear something like this from rampage’s mouth, I think rampage will be in some troubles to get away from jail time. IMHO he should have plead guilty and tried to get some deal with the DA.
by linx on Aug 29, 2008 5:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So he’s saying he snapped because “a father figure” ripped him off money? If it’s Ibarra who ripped him off like that, I could see how Rampage would go into a kind of depressional state and start that whole crazy energy drinking-fasting thing. Juanito was like a father to him over the last few years, they even became born-again Christians together, and for someone like that to rip you off, I could see how it would fuck with your head. You’re supposed to trust this guy more than anyone.
I seem to be the only one saying this but I don’t care, I’m a Rampage fan till I die. I hope he gets better soon and is back in fighting shape sooner than later.
Don’t worry Page, you still got fans.
by Toms Bombs on Aug 29, 2008 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still want to see Rampage fight but with each new statement he makes I like him less and less.
by Cogito Ergo Sum on Aug 29, 2008 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I lOVE RAMPAGE!!!!! Cant wait to see him fight again. In My eyes, Quinton can do NO WRONG!
by john on Aug 29, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I read the rest of the article and officially hope they throw the book at him. Man up you sally and take the punishment you deserve seriously. First he talks trash about Griffen and now he’s playing dumb. Seriously hit him with the book. (after he fights Rua)
by Cogito Ergo Sum on Aug 29, 2008 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow…If he really thought that why did he stop? Why didn’t he just tell the police to follow him because something bad was going to happen to Brian…realy really weird.
by Robert on Aug 28, 2008 9:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m guessing he stopped because of the completely shredded tire on his truck, plus the numerous police cars around him.
by cmon on Aug 29, 2008 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously Rampage was out of his f**kin’ mind! If you’re trying to make sense out of what a crazy person thinks, it’ll make u crazy, so don’t try… I wonder if it’s Juanito he was saying cheated him? Would make sense…no?
by THORAZINE on Aug 28, 2008 9:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How can he plead not guilty, when he did everything that he was charged, with everyone as a witness? Someone set me straight?
by Rubberman on Aug 28, 2008 9:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He’s claiming diminished responsibility, seemingly on the basis that he was rushing to someone’s spiritual aid. I don’t think that that’s gonna cut it.
by zulu9812 on Aug 28, 2008 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
u always plead not guilty to any charges u get in hopes of a plea deal where some charges will be reduced and/or dropped to get out of going to trial. if he’s offered a plea deal and still pleads not guilty then the case will go to trial, but normally a plea deal is buttered up to where the defendant will take it and plead guilty to lesser charges and it saves the prosecutor and the state/county time and money so they can focus on bigger cases.
by deuce 4 on Aug 28, 2008 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought you plea ‘guilty’ to try to get a deal, but if you plea ‘not guilty’ and is fined ‘guilty’ than the sentence is much more strict. Of course I have no idea of what I’m talking about, I get my info from movies LOL.
by linx on Aug 29, 2008 5:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When you plead Not Guilty they’ll set up a pre trial conference, where the DA will usually offer a plea bargain that you can plead guilty to with diminished sentencing. If not then they set a trial date and go to trial. If he goes that route and loses the trial then he’ll get the max, or close to the max sentencing for trying to fight it.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 29, 2008 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Linx, It’s not like the movies. The system is slow and its oftens months in between court dates. That time gives your lawyer time to negotiate with the DA for a sweet deal. In Rampage case this will come down to a big hit to his wallet but I don’t see it coming to jail time. It’s in California, celebrities with deep pokets always get over. Dana will probably pay Rampage’s fine for him because he seems to have a man crush on him.
Now if he just pled guilty, now there’s no negotiating and you are at the mercy of the judge.
by getrawbc on Aug 29, 2008 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who the heck is Brian? Is that one of his kids or something?
by Dave on Aug 28, 2008 9:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it is one of his training partners. the bald guy, his mauy tai and boxing coach.and quinton fired jaunito for scamming him out of 30k. by charging him 65k to train at big bear training camp its.when its only 30k to train there. JAUNITO IBARRA I HOPE YOU GET HIT BY A BUS…
by mmafan on Nov 13, 2008 3:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Rampage was going loco did u see him when he foughb griffin he had a loced out look the whole time
by shawnizzle on Aug 28, 2008 10:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why would he plead guilty? It’s not like they have a ton of evidence against him or anything.
by the_mexicutioner on Aug 28, 2008 10:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LMAO, best sarcastic comment in a long time!
by linx on Aug 29, 2008 5:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey thanks rampage, next time i come home late Ill just tell my wife i was worried about brian.
by day1er on Aug 28, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
ya….Brian needs me…I’ll have to miss your friends wedding or Brian needs me…I can’t help you move this weekend
by McArthur on Aug 29, 2008 6:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Appears that the Orange County California Distric Attorney was not willing to make a deal. If he offered to have the two Felony charges reduced to Misdemeanors like the other four charges, they would have taken the deal. He had to plead Not Guilty because that’s the only option at this time if he didn’t want two Felony charges on his record (harder if not impossible to go to the UK to train and even gain employment in some cases later on down the road). This way, it will go to a Jury and they will decide his fate later vs. the DA and Judge now. Also buys more time to make a better case. I like the odds of an Orange County Jury (LA) – remember the OJ Simpson Trial . . . “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit”. Now, they have to come up with something clever like “If my truck hit a fence, and my mind had no defense, then you have to throw out the evi-dence!”
by TheProfessor on Aug 28, 2008 10:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
“If my truck hit a fence, and my mind had no defense, then you have to throw out the evi-dence!"
Are you related to Johnny Cocrane? XD
by Sean_M on Aug 29, 2008 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More like “Jackie Chiles” from Seinfeld!!
by TheProfessor on Aug 29, 2008 2:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
his defense will be
-If my mind isn’t legit, you must acquit!
by linx on Aug 29, 2008 5:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
PhilQNY: started my bjj class today, obviously i got SUB’D. thats natural/ but i know you train bjj. how long did it take you before you became proficient? damn i love arm-bars. what a great art/ i can get sub’d all day man, ill be happy!!
by medecine balls on Aug 29, 2008 12:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
why do people go completely off topic, if you wanna talk like this exchange emails or something, dont wanna sound like a idiot, just annoys me
by ufcbon on Aug 29, 2008 5:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, keep the banter up med(e)cine balls. Although we tend to focus on well known, pro fighters, it’s interesting to see some of the guys on here join up and start training. No one can give analysis like people who actually do it.
by chefdaddy on Aug 29, 2008 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So just because he was delusional we should let him off. I think not. He should have the book thrown at him. He put alot of peoples lifes in danger. I have not heard him say sorry or show any remorse for the lady he hit and she lost her unborn child. Instead he was out partying with Dana “I wish I was a fighter” White. If any of us normal people did this they would have charged us with the murder of that child and we would have been lucky to see the light of day again….
Just one mans opinion…
by kimbosucks on Aug 29, 2008 1:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The OC D.A. said that the investgation concluded that the miscarriage was not related to the car accident. Hence his not being charged with it. As far as the rest of it goes, we’ll see what happens.
by MongoMan on Aug 29, 2008 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like your Post,except for the part you put about the unborn baby,it was never proven he did that,your probably going to take a lot of flack for that alone.other than that I do agree with you about the justice system,and him being delusional part,and putting alot of lives at danger.Im just glad that no one got seriously hurt and i do believe he should make a public apoliogy .
by DBG on Aug 29, 2008 2:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not only was Jackson not responsible for the miscarriage, no one got hurt. I hate how this country wants to punish people for what they COULD have done vs what they actually DID. He dmg’s property, evaded officers, yea thats really lame, but he didn’t hurt anyone, and I don’t think he should be punished or attacked like he ran someone over. The COULD have argument is bullshit, and I hate how that bs holds up in court.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 29, 2008 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, they should release everybody who’s in jail for attempted murder if they didn’t successfully murder anyone.
by PW on Aug 29, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how can u say he didnt hurt anyone I was a witness to this madness and i saw him repetedly slam into the escalade over and over trying to get thru lifting it at least 3 feet off the ground and drag her down the frwy then he drove up her car and his tire was going into her window i have no idea how he didnt kill her if she was in any other car she would probably be dead …. do you have any idea what it must feel like to think you are about to die the emotional damage she suffered can be life long not to mention 8 days later losing her child ….. and as i have read she does have legal counsel but nothing has been filed , maybe she is trying to recover from the tragedy that took place in her life in that week and especially mourn the loss of her little boy if she was driving a new escalade it doesnt seem like she is lacking in money , he needs to pay criminally for what he did to all affected by his actions…..
by rene on Aug 30, 2008 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
TheProfessor—
Too bad the OJ trail wasn’t in Orange County. Try and get your facts straight.
by kimbosucks on Aug 29, 2008 1:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
kimbosucks -
It’s trial, not trail – or were you refering to the blood trail?
Facts? I know the facts, Los Angeles County was created in 1850, then parts of the county’s territory were given to San Bernardino County in 1853, to Kern County in 1866 and to Orange County in 1889.
LA County . . . Orange County – does it really matter? I was talking about the liberal courts of the Communist State of “Kalifornia” where the rights of the criminal seem to be valued more than the rights of the victim.
by TheProfessor on Aug 29, 2008 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ha ahhahahahaha like the last part damn libs. hahah
by DBG on Aug 29, 2008 4:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This guy is a fucking idiot. I cant see how you go from being the champ to a crazy religious nut in matter of days and i dont think the court will see it that way either.
I hope they put him against liddell again so he can finally be put to rest.
Shogun without steroids is a Boring fighter.
Feel sorry for rich cause hes gonna be on his back for 15.
Machida is fucking boring but he wins…. he is a smaller Tim Sylvia..
Brock Lesnar can beat anyone in the hw division easily.
UFC needs to put on more shows in Canada because they sell. bring the hate. Cote by tko in 1st(counter right hook).
by Colin D on Aug 29, 2008 2:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ok I know im probably going to take a hit or two for this but, how’s about Cung le comming to the ufc. I think it would be the smartest move ,for him and i think it would be a great thing for the ufc. he was a animal in K1 and he is pretty good in strike force.He is the only thing i see out of the whole strike force elite xc thing not ready for Anderson yet but get him with a real good group AKA,ATT,or Cotoure He might be a bad man to deal with in the Future.Phil,Linx what you think. Hey by the way thanks guys for your posts this morning.I will keep a open mind. but again not hating on you guys at all,but being there twice already it’s a whole different story once you’ve been there.Hey linkx good to put things behind us. I do respect most of your posts,you seem alright.and phil probably got the mst respect for you,seeing as you at least train purple belt in jits,pretty impressive,any way thanks guys.and what you all think about Cunt,i mean cung le comming to the ufc.Good or no Good.
by DBG on Aug 29, 2008 2:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually, Dana white has said a few times now that he wants Cung Le in the UFC. Probably the only fighter he said that about that wasn’t already in the UFC.
by Toms Bombs on Aug 29, 2008 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We’re cool DBG, I also would like to see cung le in the UFC, but I think any BJJ fighter will finish him. I could be wrong but I hope he is training some ground!
by linx on Aug 29, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Colin D: Shogun off steroids.where you get that.Lesnar couldnt beat mir,oh wait i think brock cals him Mrrrrrr, machida may be a runner but he is no where near the pus Big dumb tim is.
by DBG on Aug 29, 2008 2:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
tsk tsk tsk, damn I sick of hearing about this guy now, which sucks, cause I really used to like Rampage, but Now I wouldn’t care If I never heard of him again. Put him in there with Wanderli, then send him on his way
by Liddell-Marquardt-GSP-Sherk on Aug 29, 2008 2:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
theres a good chance that Rampage would own Wanderlei if they were to fight again….not sayin he would because if they did fight, I would pick Wanderlei to win….after going 0-2 with the same guy, your chances are extremely low of beating that person.
by Chadx23 on Aug 29, 2008 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So… is there a good chance that Wanderlei would win or is there a good chance that Rampage would win? LOL…
by zulu9812 on Aug 29, 2008 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I say wandy would DESTROY rampage again if they were to fight. It’s not going to be an easy win, it never was, but he always gets the KO (wandy does).
by linx on Aug 29, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m just glad to hear what Rampage was thinking when he did this. What else did everyone expect him to say? He was really hungry and headed to BK? Obviously he wasn’t in his right mind when he just decided to take his truck off-road and run from police. He wasn’t even charged with DUI! To me, that leaves only one possibility: craziness.
The problem is, most traffic violations do not require a “criminal intent” like his lawyer said. They are strict liability crimes, which means if you did the act, you are guilty. However, craziness can excuse or reduce the punishment.
by cmon on Aug 29, 2008 10:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Gotta laugh at posters on a damn MMA forum questioning a lawyer’s defense of his/her client. LOL. Some people should stick to keyboard-warrioring and let real attorneys handle court cases. Seriously: anyone on here who is getting their news from TMZ and trying to make grand pronouncements on this case is either 15 years old or a complete idiot.
by Fred on Aug 29, 2008 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not sure if your comment is directed at my post above, but I am also a lawyer, so I do have some grounds for questioning his attorney’s statement.
by cmon on Aug 29, 2008 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
brian made me kill all those peps.
by the still operator on Aug 29, 2008 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
who ever you are saying no one was hurt you have alot of ignorance sometimes emotional injury can take a life time to recover why dont you try and imagine a 10 inch lifted truck coming at you at 45mph with no where to go beacause you are in stopped traffic and then after being reoetedly slammed into 3 times dragged at least 5 feet down the frwy because his car was connected to that girls escalade so this maniac could continue on and all you can see is his front tire coming into your drivers window as your vehicle is being lifted 3 feet off the ground …..I thought he was going to go right thru her window or over the top of her vehicle … hmmmm have you ever had a moment in your life wher you were sure you were going to die …. she may never recover from that i was there and saw the whole thing and he was getting thru no matter what the cost …and as I have read she has an attorney but nothing has been filed maybe she is trying to recover and grieve the loss of her child and the fact she was driving a new escalade doesnt seem as though shes hurting for money….
by rene on Aug 30, 2008 12:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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