Child abuse charge against UFC veteran Tim Means dismissed after witness fails to appear

A felony child abuse charge against UFC veteran Tim Means was dismissed without prejudice on Monday after a witness failed to appear in court, halting the prosecution before it could move forward.

Prosecutors filed “nolle prosequi,” a legal declaration that the district attorney’s office is unwilling or no longer plans to prosecute Means on the single count of child abuse he was facing. Had he been convicted, Means could have faced prison time. Because the dismissal was without prejudice, however, the charge could potentially be refiled at a later date.

Means was arrested on April 10 after police received a call reporting a physical altercation at his home. His daughter told officers that a dispute over household chores escalated into violence. According to the criminal complaint, Means allegedly head-butted her in the nose, grabbed her by the neck in what police described as a “strangulation manner” and held her against a kitchen counter, and struck her in the face with a closed fist after she attempted to defend herself. Police noted visible red marks on the teenager’s neck, blood in and around her nose, and additional marks on her face and cheek.

Means was taken into custody following the incident. With prosecutors now declining to proceed, the case has been halted — at least for the time being.

On the sporting side, Means is a 12-year UFC veteran whose career has been in sharp decline. He last competed in 2024, suffering a submission loss to Court McGee — his second consecutive defeat — and has gone just 1-5 across his past six fights.