LOS ANGELES – Raja Jackson, the son of former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged attack on a professional wrestler, his lawyers told USA TODAY on Oct. 9.
Raja Jackson, 25, faces one felony count of battery with bodily injury and one misdemeanor count of battery, according to charging documents obtained by USA TODAY. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 24 at the San Fernando Courthouse in Los Angeles, according to California Superior Court records.
The felony charge carries a potential sentence of up to four years in prison, though charging documents indicate prosecutors are seeking an enhancement that could result in a maximum sentence of up to seven years in prison.
Raja Jackson was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department in September and released on $50,00 bail, according to the booking records. His lawyer, Michael Freedman, declined to comment on the case beyond the not-guilty plea when reached by USA TODAY.
What is Raja Jackson accused of?
The charges stem from a viral incident where Raja Jackson allegedly interrupted a match during the ‘Knox Experience’ show put on by KnokX Pro Wrestling Academy on Aug. 23. He was seen on a live-streamed video picking up, slamming, and repeatedly punching Stuart Smith, who wrestles under the name Syko Stu.
As seen on the livestream reviewed by USA TODAY, the two appeared to have agreed that Raja Jackson would make a scripted interruption after a heated interaction before the show. The wrestling academy said that the wrestling spot turned into a “selfish, irresponsible act of violence against Mr. Smith” in a statement posted Aug. 24.
Douglas Malo, a wrestler who was involved in the ensuing melee, previously told USA TODAY in an interview that Smith lost ‘a lot of teeth’ in the incident. The misdemeanor charge stems from Raja Jackson’s altercation with Malo, according to the charging documents.
Smith was released from the hospital Aug. 31 and said in an Instagram post that he suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured bone in his face and a ‘serious head injury.’