Cain Velasquez recently entered a plea in his 2022 attempted murder case. He pleaded no contest to felony assault and gun charges as part of a negotiated agreement with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office. The charges stem from an incident where Velasquez allegedly shot at another vehicle during a high-speed chase. Inside the vehicle was a man accused of molesting a 4-year-old relative of Velasquez, and the man’s stepfather, who was wounded by the gunshots. Velasquez was scheduled to go on trial in September but opted to plead no contest to avoid premeditated murder charges. While he still faces prison time, the mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole has been dropped.
The man accused of molesting the boy is the adult son of a woman who operated a daycare attended by the child. District Attorney Jeff Rosen expressed concern over Velasquez’s actions, stating that he endangered innocent bystanders, including young children, and their parents. He emphasized the need for law enforcement to handle such situations instead of individuals taking matters into their own hands. Velasquez allegedly used a .40-caliber handgun to fire multiple rounds at the pickup truck, with the stepfather being unintentionally struck in the arm and torso. Velasquez was arrested in 2022 and released on bail in November 2022 while awaiting trial. The man accused of sexual abuse, Harry Goularte, is also awaiting trial on child molestation charges.
Velasquez’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 18. Despite the developments in the case, Velasquez and his attorney, Renee Hessling, declined to comment after a recent court hearing. Velasquez rose to fame in the UFC by winning the heavyweight championship in 2012 by defeating Junior dos Santos. He successfully defended his title twice before stepping away from competitive mixed martial arts in 2019. The UFC president, Dana White, has been at odds with Conor McGregor over his return to the octagon, adding to the drama surrounding the sport.
The no contest plea entered by Velasquez means that he will no longer face the premeditated murder charges and the mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole. Despite this, Velasquez still faces potential prison time for the felony assault and gun charges. The incident, which took place during a high-speed chase, has raised concerns about the safety of innocent bystanders and the need for law enforcement to handle such situations. Velasquez’s actions were criticized by the District Attorney for endangering children and their parents, who could have been harmed during the shooting.
The man accused of molesting Velasquez’s relative, Harry Goularte, is also facing trial for child molestation charges. The incident involving Velasquez firing shots at the pickup truck and unintentionally wounding the stepfather raised alarm about the potential consequences of such actions. Velasquez’s journey through the legal system and the upcoming sentencing hearing in October have drawn attention to the case. Despite his previous success in the UFC, the current legal situation has overshadowed his achievements in the sport.
Velasquez’s decision to plead no contest and avoid the premeditated murder charges highlights the complexities of the case and the potential implications for his future. While the plea deal may have eliminated certain charges, he still faces the possibility of prison time. The impact of his actions on the victims and the broader community has been a focal point in the ongoing legal proceedings. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what the final outcome will be for Velasquez and the others involved in the incident.
