Phoenix, AZ – UFC bantamweight Casey Kenney has been arrested on kidnapping and assault charges in Arizona.
Phoenix PD confirmed the arrest to Cageside Press.
Arrest records show Kenney was booked on Aug 16 in Maricopa County. The mother of the alleged victim, Esther Reyes, took to social media to speak on it. In order to protect her privacy we will not be posting the victim’s name.
Kenney is facing six charges including class 2 felony kidnapping and class 4 felony assault/strangulation, and disorderly conduct-fighting, according to Maricopa County Superior Court records.
“As I posted this morning Casey has been arrested. I got the news on Friday. I was advised not to say much, but over the weekend my DM’s were pretty much full of people already knowing about the situation. I was like wow,” Reyes said on her Instagram story.
“It’s amazing how people react to the news that excites me and just finally makes me feel like justice will be served. Just seeing how many people care about it to be looking out for it and telling me, ‘Hey, I’m not sure if you know, but this is what we know.’ Sending me screenshots and just being very supportive towards my daughter and myself. I appreciate it and I thank you guys.”
A Phoenix PD report provided to Cageside Press detailed an interaction between police and Kenney on July 22 stemming from a welfare check for the victim.
According to the report officers spoke with Kenney who denied seeing the victim the night before and that she had been out partying with friends. Kenney denied the victim being in his home at the time officers arrived.
Later the same day officers responded to an emergency call to the home and made contact with the victim. The victim informed officers that her and Kenney had been in a relationship before which had recently ended.
According to the report Kenney had called the victim saying he was willing to pay for damages to her vehicle, but the victim was out with friends that night. She agreed to meet Kenney later when she was done for the night.
After a short back-and-forth with Kenney, including Kenney asking to reconcile the relationship, the victim denied the request. Kenney’s behavior became violent and aggressive according to the victim and what ensued were a series of alleged assaults in a 13-hour period.
The report details the victim alleged being punched, slapped, bitten, and head-butted as part of the assaults. The victim was able to send messages to her mom asking for help before deleting them.
Finally the next day, after the police made their first contact with Kenney and then left, she was able to escape out the front door to her mother which is when the police became involved again.
The victim was assessed for injuries and markings to her arms, lips, and left ear were noted in the report. Following that the victim expressed wanting to press charges.
This wasn’t the first time officers were called to Kenney’s home as officers responded to a call on June 23 where Kenney allegedly dragged the victim by the hair in his home.
Kenney, 33, has not fought since 2021 where he dropped a decision to Song Yadong. Prior to that he lost a decision to former champion Dominick Cruz at UFC 259.
A conference call has been scheduled for Aug 22 with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug 26 in Phoenix, AZ.
