FOX Sports legal analyst says Jon Jones could face up to three years in jail for hit-and-run

Jon Jones' legal team has their work cut out for them if they hope to keep their client from serving jail time.

That's because Dave Becker, legal analyst for FOX Sports, stopped by "UFC Tonight" earlier this week to give his view on the pickle "Bones" finds himself in after his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

According to Becker, Jones is looking at a certain indictment due to the fact that there were so many witness, including an off-duty police officer, who saw him crash into a pregnant woman's car and abandon his rental SUV shortly thereafter (see the aftermath here).

And though he isn't facing any drug charges -- yet -- after a marijuana pipe was found in the vehicle, Jon is still facing an uphill legal battle.

"Well really, the next step is up to the prosecution. They have to decide whether to go in front of the grand jury and try to get the indictment. But given that it seems clear what this guy did and that there are so many witnesses to it, I think it's inevitable there will be an indictment. So that's why I think behind the scenes, what could be happening is his lawyers are trying to get a plea bargain from the prosecutors."

When asked if his past dust up with law -- specifically his 2012 DUI case that saw him total his Bentley against a light pole in New York -- would come into play in his current dilemma, Becker says yes and no.

He explains:

"I think it's unlikely because he's never been convicted of a felony in the past; that shouldn't affect his sentencing. It could cause prosecutors to take a harder line in any plea bargain."

As far as what kind of jail time "Bones" can anticipate if indicted, Becker says the former UFC champ could face up to three years in jail for his transgressions.

"I think he'll get three years. Now, the judge could knock it down to two due to mitigating circumstances. But, in order for that to happen, he is going to have to show that when he left the scene of the crime, he didn't think there was any reason why there would be a serious injury. Considering he knocked a victim's car into another car, that's going to be pretty difficult to do."

Even if his legal team succeeds in their plea bargain, Jones could still serve a year and a half in jail.

"I would suggest that he try to get a plea bargain for as few years as possible. Maybe a year, year and a half. And I would try to get him to stress whatever reasons he has for trying to say ‘Hey I left the scene because I just didn't think there was a big deal here'."

Jones was stripped of his light heavyweight title this week after Dana White and Co. made the decision to suspend the champ indefinitely until his legal matters play out.

As a result, Daniel Cormier will step in to face Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A fight that would've marked Jon's attempt to defend his 205-pound belt for the ninth time.

In the grand scheme of things, that battle is nothing compared to the one the dominant champion has on his hands at the moment.