Ex-UFC Fighter Accused of Unprovoked Assault by Four Seasons Las Vegas Employee Files Lawsuit
Hotel employee at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas is taking legal action against the company and MMA figure Chael Sonnen following an alleged altercation.
Joshua Olds and four others allege they were physically attacked without any provocation one night in 2021, as per documents obtained by KLAS-TV/Las Vegas.In the lawsuit filed in Las Vegas, which accuses assault, battery, and negligence, Olds was said to have sustained severe facial and bodily injuries on Dec. 18, 2021.
Olds reportedly intervened to assist hotel guests Julie and Christopher Stellpflug, who themselves filed a lawsuit against Sonnen in March. The California couple claim they encountered Sonnen, who appeared intoxicated, while making their way to their hotel room.
They allege that without provocation, Sonnen struck Christopher multiple times in the head, attempted to strangle him, and assaulted Julie by slamming her against a light fixture and hitting her in the face. Both parties sustained concussions.
According to numerous sources, Sonnen, aged 45, was initially charged with ten counts of misdemeanor battery and one felony count of battery by strangulation against five individuals. In March 2022, prosecutors dismissed the felony charge and decreased Sonnen’s accusations to six misdemeanors.
In September 2022, Las Vegas Justice Pro Tem Craig Friedberg dropped the remaining two counts pertaining to the Stellpflugs’ complaint. Sonnen now faces four misdemeanor battery charges related to Olds’ complaint.
No Arrest
As per KLAS, Sonnen was only issued a ticket at the scene instead of being arrested, as law enforcement stated the batteries were misdemeanors that were unobserved by them. The report also noted that Sonnen later informed police he was on Ambien and could not recall either incident.
A bench trial in Sonnen’s criminal case is scheduled for April. Both civil cases have requested jury trials.
It remains uncertain whether the fifth individual believed to have been injured by Sonnen, believed to be a Four Seasons security guard, is taking legal action.
‘A Fervent Individual’
Sonnen, residing in Portland, is highly respected in the MMA community, with UFC president Dana White once suggesting him as a potential successor to his position.
"Chael certainly seems like a fervent individual," White told MMA Junkie in 2014. "I think he enjoys [the sport], and he’s great."
It is unclear how the charges impact White's opinion. However, even at that time, White expressed skepticism.
“The thing about Chael, though, is that he exaggerates too much, and it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not,” White said.
