Former two-division UFC champion BJ Penn was arrested Monday afternoon in Hilo, Hawaii, for violating a court-ordered protecting order filed by his mom. Police responded to the realm of Puueo Road at 4:03 PM after receiving reviews that Penn, 46, had entered property he was legally prohibited from accessing.
BJ Penn Arrested Once more
Penn was situated close to the scene and arrested with out incident. He was charged Tuesday with violating the order for cover, with bail set at $2,000, which he posted and was launched. This marks Penn’s fifth arrest this yr, all linked to ongoing household disputes and allegations of home abuse.
Background of the Protecting Order
The protecting order stems from incidents that started in Might 2025, when Penn’s 79-year-old mom, Lorraine Shin, filed for cover following a number of confrontations. Shin alleged that Penn bodily assaulted her on Might 25, shining a high-powered flashlight in her face and shoving her towards a car, inflicting ache in her again. She additionally claimed Penn stole her mail, tampered with safety cameras at her house, and used glue to dam her bed room door locks.
In August, a Hilo Household Court docket decide granted Shin a one-year no-contact safety order, operating by means of Might 2026. The order prohibits Penn from contacting his mom by means of any means and requires him to remain not less than 100 yards from her residence. In the course of the listening to, Penn admitted underneath cross-examination that he had publicly claimed his mom and brothers had been murdered and changed by imposters.
Psychological Well being Issues
Some have expressed her perception that the UFC veteran Penn suffers from Capgras syndrome, a uncommon psychiatric dysfunction the place people consider their members of the family have been changed by equivalent imposters. She said in court docket paperwork: “I consider my son is affected by Capgras delusional syndrome. He believes I’m an impostor who has killed his household to realize management of the household property.”
Penn has lately revealed he was identified with Parkinson’s illness, which medical specialists word can typically manifest signs much like Capgras syndrome in superior phases. His erratic conduct has included social media posts claiming members of the family are imposters and authorities brokers trying to steal his property.
Authorized Troubles All through 2025
Penn’s arrest Monday represents a continuation of escalating authorized issues. He was initially arrested in late Might on home abuse expenses, adopted by two further arrests inside six days for violating court docket orders. One other arrest occurred in June for violating a brief restraining order. Every incident concerned comparatively low bail quantities, usually $2,000 to $3,000, permitting Penn to safe launch shortly after arrest.
The sample has raised considerations amongst observers in regards to the effectiveness of the authorized interventions. Penn has trials scheduled for October 20 and November 3 associated to the sooner expenses.
Penn’s Preventing Legacy
Penn stays some of the achieved fighters in UFC historical past. He was the primary non-Brazilian to win a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world championship on the black belt degree in 2000. In MMA, Penn grew to become one in every of solely two fighters to win UFC titles in two weight divisions, capturing the welterweight championship in 2004 by submitting Matt Hughes and the light-weight title in 2008.
The Hawaiian fighter was inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame in 2015, with then-UFC President Dana White praising his position in constructing the group: “He was a type of stars who helped construct the UFC. After we purchased this firm, we had been advised no-one cared about lightweights. BJ Penn not solely made individuals care, he was one of many greatest attracts in UFC historical past”.
Penn’s profession ended on a troublesome word with seven consecutive losses from 2011 to 2019, culminating in his launch from the UFC after involvement in bar altercations. His closing skilled document stands at 16-14-2, however his peak years from 2004 to 2010 established him as one of many sport’s most dominant lightweights.