Prosecutors Drop Child‑Abuse Charge Against UFC Fighter Tim Means

Overview

• Prosecutors dismissed the felony child‑abuse charge against Tim Means on Monday when a key witness did not appear in court, according to Bernalillo County records and local reporting.
• The dismissal was entered as a nolle prosequi, a prosecutorial act that halts the current prosecution but does not prevent the district attorney from refiling the same charge later.
• Police documents from April allege Means head‑butted his 17‑year‑old daughter, grabbed her neck in a strangulation manner, threw a potato at her and punched her, while Means told officers he grabbed her to stop an attack.
• Means is not convicted; the charge was dropped without prejudice so legal exposure remains if prosecutors secure testimony or new evidence and decide to refile.
• Means is a long‑tenured UFC welterweight who has not fought since October 2024, and the public and personal stakes include reputational damage and potential effects on family custody matters reported in earlier coverage.