Former UFC heavyweight Cody East is once again in trouble with the law.
On Saturday, East was arrested in Albuquerque, N.M. by Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department on charges of battery, child abuse (not resulting in great bodily harm or death), and false imprisonment of a household member, according to online records.
New Mexico news outlet KRQE, which first reported the arrest, also reported East allegedly “got into a fight with his wife and is accused of refusing to let her and their kids out of a car,” according to a criminal complaint acquired.
East, 33, had five warrants for traffic-related violations at the time of his arrest, per online records, and was released Tuesday from Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center on zero-dollar bond after “Release on Recognizance.”
East is scheduled for his preliminary examination hearing April 26 in Albuquerque Metropolitan Court.
The most recent arrest isn’t East’s first. In 2006, he was arrested for assault and resisting an officer, after the district attorney filed a “nolle prosequi,” an abandonment of prosecution, due to an “uncooperative” essential witness.
In 2008, East was arrested again and faced charges of battery and abandonment/abuse of a child among others, according to online records. He was later sentenced to three years in prison.
East was arrested again in 2010 and faced charges of assault against a household member and criminal damage to property. The charges were later dismissed without prejudice on “nolle prosequi” because the victim and a witness failed to appear in court.
In December 2016, East was arrested on three felony charges: aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. The charges were discharged after the victim and witness did not show up for court, per online records.
East competed twice for the UFC, both in 2016, after he signed with the promotion on an episode of “Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight.” He lost both of his UFC bouts via TKO, to Walt Harris and Curtis Blaydes respectively.
Since his UFC departure, East fought five times and went 1-4. He most recently competed for Arizona-based promotion RUF MMA in June 2021.
