A former mixed martial arts lightweight championship contender is facing charges of sexual abuse in Clackamas County. Hermes Barros França, who formerly lived in Oregon and ran a martial arts academy in Clackamas, is being held in the Clackamas County Jail, with bail set at $250,000.
França was arraigned Tuesday in Clackamas County Circuit Court on seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration. He turned himself in
Monday after an arrest warrant was issued.
França, 36, a resident of Jupiter, Fla., formerly lived in Oregon and operated the Team Hermes França Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Clackamas. França holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a combat sport that stresses the use of grappling ground fighting that was derived from judo about 100 years ago. Through the academy, França offered personalized instruction that promised realistic self-defense knowledge, increased self-confidence, stress relief and consistent mental focus, as well physical fitness.
Since 2001, França has been competing in various mixed martial arts organizations, later establishing himself as an Ultimate Fighting Championship contender. In 2007, he challenged Sean Sherk for the UFC lightweight title, but lost by unanimous decision. Afterward, the California State Athletic Commission announced that França had tested positive for a banned steroid in a post-fight drug test. He was suspended from competing in California for a year and fined $2,500.
França, who has a mixed martial arts record of 21 wins, 11 losses, 0 draws and 1 no-contest, had been scheduled to face Drew "Night Rider" Fickett on June 10 in a Maximum Fighting Championship lightweight bout. However, the MFC released França from his contract after his arrest.
França's trial in Clackamas County Circuit Court is set for July 12.
Source: OregonLive.com
