Ex-UFC fighter Casey Kenney pleads not guilty, released on bond awaiting trial in January

Ex-UFC fighter Casey Kenney has been released on $10,000 bond after pleading not guilty to a variety of charges related to an alleged domestic violence incident that took place in July.

Kenney was released following an arraignment hearing in Maricopa County Court in Arizona this past Thursday. A representative from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to MMA Fighting that Kenney was released from custody after paying his $10,000 bond as ordered by the court.

With Kenney pleading not guilty, his next court date involves a pre-trial conference scheduled on Oct. 15, with a trial date tentatively set for Jan. 23, 2025.

Kenney was arrested in August following allegations of domestic violence and an investigation by police that ended with the veteran fighter being charged. He currently faces numerous charges including kidnapping, which is a class 2 felony, and several misdemeanors as well.

Based on the minutes from his recent hearing, there was no probable cause found for the aggravated assault charge for impeding breathing “as no facts alleged to support that alleged victim’s breathing was ever impaired,” but there was probable cause found on all the other allegations.

A probable cause statement obtained by MMA Fighting revealed the details that led to Kenney’s arrest:

“Between the dates of 7-21-2024 at approximately 11:00 p.m. and 7-22-24 at approximately 12:14 a.m. while at the single family residence located at [address redacted], [suspect] Casey Kenney committed kidnapping, aggravated assault by strangulation and assault against [victim] Jasmine Mendez by repeatedly striking, slapping, biting, headbutting and choking [victim] Jasmine for several hours resulting in abrasions to Jasmine’s lip and discoloration to Jasmine’s arms and petechiae to Jasmine’s neck.

“Furthermore, during the 13 hours at Casey Kenney’s residence, Jasmine was incapable of escaping the residence due to Casey routinely grabbing hold of Jasmine and holding her in place during her attempts while threatening to cause more physical harm. Casey Kenney advised Jasmine Mendez that if anyone shows up he will shoot them and if her mother shows up he will shoot her in the head. Jasmine Mendez stated she desires prosecution in this matter at this time.”

With Kenney awaiting trial, the judge also issued a number of conditions for his continued release, including that he cannot have any contact whatsoever with the alleged victim even if the alleged victim contacts him first. Contact with the alleged victim could lead to a violation of the “no victim contact” order, which could constitute aggravated harassment, a class 6 felony in Arizona.

Kenney was also ordered not to have any contact with the arresting officers in his case, he’s not allowed to possess any drugs without a valid prescription, he cannot possess or consume alcohol, he’s not allowed to possess any weapons including firearms, and he has to submit to fingerprinting and DNA testing or his release may be revoked.

Assuming Kenney follows those terms, he will remain free awaiting his trial scheduled in January.

The veteran bantamweight, who last fought in 2021, was also released from the UFC roster after his initial arrest in August.