PHOENIX Jones, who gained notoriety as a self-proclaimed superhero, failed to get his contract renewed with the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

Jones, whose real name is Ben Fodor, had contracted with the agency as a home-care provider and worked with autistic children.

A statement from DSHS refutes an earlier report from Publicola.com that Fodor had been fired from his job.

DSHS said that when Fodor's contract came up for renewal in October, a routine background check was conducted, which revealed that he had been arrested on assault charges. An assault conviction disqualifies people from contracting with DSHS for work with vulnerable adults and children, the agency said.

Fodor's legal team at the Impact Law Group said that he is sad to be out of his job because he really enjoyed teaching the kids.

"I had to leave work in the middle of the day," he told Publicola. "It was embarrassing."

The lawyers also confirmed that Fodor received a letter from the state DSHS. It said that if Fodor is not convicted of assault, his contract status can be reinstated. The agency also said that he has the right to appeal the decision to not extend his contract.

On October 9, Fodor was arrested by Seattle police for allegedly pepper-spraying a group of men and women near Pioneer Square. Following a court appearance, he revealed his real name and secret identity as a 23-year-old mixed martial arts fighter.

Prosecutors have not filed charges and a spokeswoman for the city attorney's office said the case is being investigated.

Fodor said he is not sure how he will pay the bills now. While he has received offers for fight bouts from the Strikeforce mixed martial arts organization, he also plans to start fighting crime in the daytime, in addition to his night patrols around Seattle.

Originally published as Self-styled superhero loses job