In a significant legal development, veteran broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones, 84, has pleaded not guilty to 27 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching. The charges stem from allegations that he assaulted nine men over two decades. During a court hearing on Thursday, prosecutors downgraded 11 of the most serious charges, which were related to alleged assaults on individuals under his authority, and dropped some charges entirely. The case, now set to be heard by a magistrate rather than a jury, will return to court next month. Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund noted that the case was restructured after two alleged victims withdrew, though no explanation was provided for their departure. Jones’ lawyer, Bryan Wrench, described the dropped charges as a ‘very big development’ and a ‘significant concession,’ emphasizing that there was no evidence of Jones having authority over the complainants. Police have indicated that some of the alleged victims knew Jones personally, with at least one having been employed by him. Others reportedly faced assault during their first encounter with him. Jones, a polarizing figure in Australian media, has consistently denied the allegations, calling them ‘baseless’ or ‘distortions of the truth.’ Known for his controversial remarks, Jones has faced multiple defamation lawsuits and advertiser boycotts throughout his career. The case continues to draw significant public attention as it unfolds.